Drug user caught with cocaine on his nose
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A sheriff has been hearing how a repeat drugs offender was caught “bang to rights” at a house in Wick.
Richard Shepherd (30) had tell-tale traces of white powder on his nose when police entered his brother’s house in the town’s Kennedy Terrace.
Wick Sheriff Court was told on Tuesday that the police caught Shepherd in possession of cocaine with intent to supply it, by chance – they had been looking for another person for whom a warrant had been used.
Shepherd pleaded guilty on indictment and admitted a record including drug-related convictions. He will be sentenced next month.
David Barclay said that officers entered the house around 9pm on May 17, 2018 and observed the accused holding “a rolled-up £10 note”.
The fiscal continued: “There was powder on his nose and on a coffee table nearby. Taken together, it appeared to be the classic signs of drug misuse.”
Mr Barclay added that a search revealed further white powder in a pocket of Shepherd’s jogging bottoms. Analysis later confirmed the drugs, totalling 4.8 grams, to be the Class A drug cocaine.
The drugs were said to have had a lump sum value of £200 to £250 but would have fetched £500 had it been sold in single-gram raps.
Mr Barclay stressed that the drugs were not a commercial proposition but were intended to be shared “with one other person”.
A plea of not guilty by Shepherd’s co-accused, his brother Graham (31) to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, was accepted by the fiscal.
Mr Barclay explained that the time lapse in getting the case to court was due to “circumstances beyond anyone’s control”.
The case was continued until May 20 when Sheriff Berry will consider a background report before passing sentence on Richard Shepherd, who had since moved from Wick to Lythmore Road, Thurso.
