Craigshill heroin dealer jailed after undercover drugs bust

Jul 23 2009 by Debbie Spalding, West Lothian Courier

A DRUG dealer snared through an undercover operation was jailed this week.

Andrew Deacons was one of many suppliers caught by cops through Operation Focus, a major crackdown aimed at clearing drug dealers from the streets of West Lothian.

Deacons (41), pled guilty to supplying diamorphine between December 10 and December 17 last year from 15 Hobart Street, Craigshill.

Linlithgow Sheriff Court heard last week that, at 3.10pm on December 10, test-purchase officers asked to buy drugs and went to 15 Hobart Street, where they were invited into the living room and supplied with a bag of heroin worth £20.

Then, at 11.30am the next day, test-purchase officers were at The Centre in Livingston, where they telephoned Deacons, who was also at the shopping centre.

They walked with him to his home and once there, Deacons removed a bag from the waistband of his trousers and put it on the coffee table.

He indicated to the officers that they could help themselves and they took two bags from a larger bag which contained around 20 other pouches of brown powder.

Deacons’ solicitor, Stephen Mannifield, said his client had spent time in jail and was released five years ago.

“He has found it difficult to readjust, having spent a long period of time of time in prison and, because of these difficulties, he began to use heroin.

“He did take steps during that period to address his drug problem and, for about two years, was on methadone but took himself off and for a period was completely drug free, “Unfortunately, he went back to his old ways.

“He lost his job last year, lapsed back into heroin abuse and became concerned in the supply of heroin in a relatively small way.”

Deacons was jailed by Sheriff Grahame Fleming for 200 days, backdated to April 24.

Operation Focus took place in April this year and saw one of the biggest crackdowns on Class A drugs in the county.

Around 100 officers took part in dawn raids in Whitburn, Dedridge, Blackburn, Fauldhouse, Addiewell, Armadale, Linlithgow and Knightsridge, with over 60 people being arrested.

If you would like to provide any information that can help police identify those involved in drug dealing, contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.”