Court / Case adjourned for reports after woman admits drug supply charge
A WOMAN who admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin with a potential value of up to £1,400 has given the opportunity of a second chance.
Paula Flaherty, whose address was given as Grampian Prison, had her case adjourned for a criminal justice social work report when she appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old admitted being concerned in the supply of diamorphine at the NorthLink ferry terminal in Lerwick and elsewhere on 11 November last year whilst she was on bail.
The guilty plea however only came as preparations were being made for a jury trial to be held this week.
The raw value of the heroin involved was £600, with its potential sellable value more than double that.
The court heard it was a non-commercial supply to a partner in what was described as a “toxic” relationship.
Defence agent Liam McAllister said Flaherty had gone to Aberdeen before returning to Shetland on the boat and was on “downward spiral” at the time.
He said in a “perverse way” Flaherty – who had been in custody since November – was “grateful for the police intervention” as it has given her a second chance to turn her life around.
McAllister noted that Flaherty, who now has hopes to study art, had already spent a number of months in custody.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said the value of drugs involved was not “insubstantial”.
He said it was a delicate balance for sentencing given Flaherty’s circumstances and also the need to discourage others from using the ferry to get drugs into Shetland.
The Sheriff noted that not all her time spent in custody was connected to the drug case.
Sheriff Cruickshank highlighted that it was Flaherty’s intention to try to put crime behind her – and he said he was persuaded to give her an “opportunity to prove that indeed is the case”.
The case was adjourned to 12 July for the preparation of a social work report and consideration of a restriction of liberty assessment order, with Flaherty released on bail.
The sheriff granted a crown motion for the forfeiture of items seized in connection with the case.
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