News / Man admits having heroin
A TWENTY nine year old man from Lerwick who was found in possession of £450 worth of heroin and six small cannabis plants will learn his fate in April.
Jason Pottinger, of Ladies Drive, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to possessing the class A drug in the town on 30 August.
He also pled guilty to producing a quantity of the class B cannabis at his home address on 31 October, as well as driving without insurance at various locations in Lerwick four days earlier.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said police searched Pottinger’s home and seized the plants, which would have a value of £300 when they are fully grown.
In August, police saw him walking when they were on their way to his address to conduct a search. He had 4.5 grams of heroin in his possession.
Sheriff Philip Mann called for a social work report to be prepared and agreed to request an assessment into whether Pottinger could be placed on drug testing and treatment order.
He also granted forfeiture of the items seized by police in Pottinger’s home and adjourned matters until 12 April.
MEANWHILE, a man from Lerwick who put an item in his mouth after police stopped him following a tip-off from the public has had his sentence deferred until April.
Barry Dutton, of Bank Lane, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff court on Wednesday to intentionally obstructing two police officers in the exercise of their powers under section 23 of the misuse of drugs act on 17 September at the town’s Gilbertson Road.
He failed to comply with police instructions, placed an item in his mouth, ran from police and threw an item away.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said police officers on patrol were told by a member of the public that the 32 year old was acting suspiciously.
They followed him, but it was “clear” that he was trying to evade the police.
After they stopped their car in front of him, Dutton took his hands out of his pockets and put something in his mouth, but refused to spit it out.
He tried to run away but was knocked off balance by one of the officers before flailing his arms. The item Dutton put in his mouth was never recovered.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said the incident occurred three days after his client’s birthday and he had been drinking for some time.
He said Dutton is currently on methadone but has been able to reduce his intake.
“You’ve not got a good record and it’s peppered with offences against the drugs act,” Sheriff Philip Mann said.
He said preventing police from detecting drugs offences is a “great disservice to the public”.
The sheriff said he wished to consider all sentencing options apart from jail and deferred the case for reports until 12 April.
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