Published: Wednesday, 13th February, 2008 10:00
Honestly, I’m not a drug dealer
By Court Reporter
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COPS who raided the flat of a suspected drug dealer found a £600 stash of cocaine, scales, cash and polythene bags.
Despite the evidence stacked against him Ryan O’Donnell insisted he was not a dealer and the drugs were for himself and his friends after they had bought it cheap “in a Clydebank pub”.
But O’Donnell appeared for sentencing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week after admitting supplying the class A drug on September 29, 2006.
Fiscal depute Iain Logan said that police, acting on a tip-off, raided O’Donnell’s home at about 2pm after forcing entry.
They found a knotted polythene bag with 6.038 grammes of cocaine, valued at £275, on a top shelf in a kitchen cupboard and eight others of seven grammes each, with a potential value of £320, on a bottom shelf.
Police also found a set of scales which had traces of white powder on them.
There was also a quantity of polythene bags, with corners cut off, in a bin in the kitchen as well as £170 in cash.
Mr Logan said when O’Donnell was interviewed he claimed the wraps were for a one-off occasion.
Mr Logan added: “The accused explained that the money was his wages and had nothing to do with the sale of drugs.
“He denied selling drugs from his house and said that he was definitely not doing that. He said the eight knotted bags were to share with friends at an event on Saturday September 30 and that they had chipped in for it.”
O’Donnell’s lawyer, Bert Thomson, said the accused and his friends were in a Clydebank pub where they were approached by someone who said he could sell them cocaine at discount.
He said: “The accused and his friends went into the toilets and chipped in to buy the drugs.
“The accused was in the position where he could keep them and he agreed to take them home.
“There was no commercial aspect to it and it was intended to take the drugs to a dance event being held over a weekend.”
Mr Thomson said his client did not persuade anyone to take drugs or introduce anyone to drugs.
He added: “All were well aware of what they were getting into and my client co-operated one hundred per cent with the police.”
Sheriff George Jamieson told O’Donnell, of 9 Columba, Onslow Road, Drumry: “This is a very serious matter.
“Normally I would consider a custodial sentence but I will take account of your co-operation with the police.”
O’Donnell was given 18 months probation and 200 hours community service.
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