PLAIN-CLOTHES police watched on as a Drumry man bought a bag of heroin in the street outside his home.

Officer on foot patrol saw 42-year-old Colin Brodie acting suspiciously outside his Alsatian Avenue home at around 5.45pm on September 26.

Brodie appeared in court for sentencing on Friday after pleading guilty to a charge of possession at an earlier hearing, when social work reports were ordered.

The court heard Brodie had left his home and carried out an exchange with a vehicle driver, while Fiscal depute Craig Wainwright said: “The accused was observed exiting his home address. He walked towards a red motor vehicle at the side of the street and was observed in an exchange with the driver, whilst looking around to see if anyone was watching. 

“When the vehicle made off, police stopped the accused and detained him.

“Officers retrieved two bags of brown powder from his trouser pocket.

“The accused admitted immediately that it was heroin and that he had just purchased the bag for £50.”

The powder later tested positive for diamorphine, the chemical name for heroin; it weighed around two grams and had an approximate value similar to the sum Brodie handed over.

Judith Reid, defending, told Dumbarton Sheriff Court Brodie had been a long-term drug user and had relapsed after a bereavement following a spell when he was clean.

Miss Reid said Brodie was already on a community payback order, imposed in 2015 for a more serious offence, but said he should be “commended for his honesty” with the social worker who prepared the background report.

Sheriff Simon Pender adjourned the case until March 2 to allow Brodie to be assessed for a possible drug treatment and testing order.