Man found with cocaine is handed community service

Nov 26 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A MAN caught by police with a bag of cocaine has been given community service.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard officers traced John Menzies regarding an unrelated matter on March 22 this year.

They tracked him down to a friend’s house at New Well Wynd, Linlithgow. During a search of the 31-year-old, officers found he was carrying a bag of white powder, which tests revealed to be cocaine with a street value of around £90.

Last week, Menzies, whose address was given as Northfield Square, Edinburgh, pled guilty to being in possession of the drug.

The court heard Menzies was already on an 18-month probation order and had not paid an outstanding fine.

His solicitor, Alan Jackson, told the court his client was making progress on his probation order.

Mr Jackson added: “He has stayed away from offending largely in recent years.

“He has one analogous matter but that dates from 2004.”

Sentencing him to 157.5 hours of community service Sheriff Martin Edington said Menzies was beginning to accumulate quite a record.

Sheriff Edington added: “While a jail sentence is appropriate for a matter such as this, I am prepared to accept that you are making progress on probation and I am prepared to give you one last chance to avoid a custodial sentence.”