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Highlands heroin dealer avoids being locked up





Julie Scott appeared at sheriff court for sentencing
Julie Scott appeared at sheriff court for sentencing

A woman who was dealing in heroin from her home in Inverness has escaped a jail term.

Julie Scott was found with diamorphine with a street value of nearly £5,000 in her home in Morvich Way on November 11, 2014.

She admitted possession of the class A drug with intent to supply and possession of cannabis between October 26 and November 11, last year.

Sentence had been deferred until today (Friday) for background reports.

Her solicitor Neil Wilson said the 40 year-old had always done her best as a parent but had been a victim of drug misuse for 20 years.

"There were stress factors in her life which led to this offence but the accused is an adult and she made these choices."

He asked Sheriff Neilson not to send her to jail.

"She is terrified of going to prison," he said.

Mr Wilson said although she had often been in work she was not employment at the moment and was doing her best to address her drug difficulties.

At an earlier hearing the court was told by depute fiscal Roderick Urquhart when Scott was cautioned by police and asked if there were any controlled drugs on the premises during a raid on her home, she confirmed there were.

Police carried out a search and found 47.5 grammes of diamorphine.

"This is not a recognised dealing unit but had a theoretical wholesale cost of £1,330 and a maximum retail value of £4,750," said the fiscal. "When this was found Scott said it was ‘about an ounce of heroin’. One ounce is 28.35grammes."

The fiscal added police also found scales and bags, £950 in cash and a wallet containing £1,800.

Also recovered were four pieces of cannabis resin of different sizes amounting to 23.8grammes.

The fiscal said this was consistent with personal use.

On Friday depute fiscal Michelle Molley made a confiscation order for the £2,750 recovered from Scott’s home under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

This was not opposed by the defence.

Sheriff Margaret Neilson told Scott she was placing her on a three year supervision order with a drug treatment requirement and a programme for women offenders. She was also ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.

The Sheriff said it was a direct alternative to custody.


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