News / Drugs on boat
A BRICKLAYER from Dundee who took a small amount of drugs on the ferry to Shetland as he headed to the isles to work has been fined a total of £350.
William Lawrie, of Harris Terrace, Mill o’ Mains, appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Friday to admit the charges after being subject to a warrant.
The 58 year old was accused of possessing cocaine and cannabis at the NorthLink ferry terminal on Lerwick’s Holmsgarth Road on 29 July last year.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Lawrie headed to Shetland with two other travelling workmen and was searched by police acting on intelligence upon disembarking in Lerwick.
They found 1.3g of cocaine, which was worth £40, and 13.5g of cannabis resin worth £67.50. Mackenzie confirmed it was for personal use.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said Lawrie used cannabis to help him to sleep, but he wasn’t in the “habit” of using cocaine and had actually forgotten he had the class A drug on him.
He said his client had no past convictions and had “to some extent fallen into bad company”.
Referring to the warrant, the solicitor said Lawrie – who had been in custody since Wednesday – had not been aware of any previous court dates.
Honorary sheriff Malcolm Bell fined Lawrie £200 for the cocaine possession and £150 for the cannabis charge.
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