Court / ‘Amateur’ attempt to supply heroin ends with unpaid work order

A MAN from Fife whose “amateur” attempt at supplying heroin to Shetland failed last June narrowly escaped a prison sentence when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Police became aware of Kris McLean when they stopped his car on Lerwick’s Commercial Road for a noisy exhaust on 19 June.

But once officers started engaging with the 28-year-old, they became suspicious and undertook a saliva test which confirmed the presence of cocaine.

McLean, of Lochore, was arrested and following a search of his car police found a total of 243 grams of heroin held in 34 wraps, with a potential value of between £6,100 and £7,400.

He also was found to have around two grams of cocaine, worth £150, on him.

In court on Wednesday, McLean’s defence agent said due to his client’s “lack of previous involvement in the drugs trade” his attempts to supply the Class A drug were of an “amateur nature” and “due to fail”.

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Highlighting his client’s particularly favourable criminal justice social work report, he called on the sheriff to spare him a term behind bars.

McLean had previously pleaded guilty to a total of five charges, including the attempt to supply and possession of Class A drugs as well as drug driving and driving with no insurance.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said he was persuaded that in this case a community payback order involving unpaid work would be sufficient.

McLean was ordered carry out 200 hours of unpaid work while he also put under supervision for 12 months. 

He was also fined £800 and disqualified from driving for one year.

An application for forfeiture of all items seized by police had already been granted at the last court hearing.