News / Heroin man spared jail
A LERWICK man who admitted possessing heroin and narrowly missing pedestrians while driving dangerously has avoided jail.
James Gray, of 4 Grostane, previously pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with a value of £600 at his home address on 14 May.
The 49 year old also admitted driving dangerously and at excessive speeds on Lerwick’s North Road on 11 June last year, with Gray narrowly missing hitting pedestrians after he lost control of the vehicle, mounting a kerb and colliding with a wall.
At Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Gray was warned that he could have easily been placed in custody.
“I’m not sure what that will achieve at this stage,” Sheriff Philip Mann added, alluding to defence agent Tommy Allan’s suggestion his client’s life is now heading in the right direction.
Gray was placed under a curfew for four months for possessing the heroin. He was told to stay in his home between 7pm-7am seven days a week.
For the driving offence, Gray was banned from the road for 20 months and given 150 hours of unpaid work, as well as being told to take an extended driving test.
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