Livingston man placed on probation after drugs possession charge

Dec 17 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A DRUG addict caught in possession of heroin after a police search of his house has been placed on probation.

Frank Aird’s solicitor had pleaded with Livingston Sheriff Court to sentence him to community service to give his client something more positive to do with his time rather than sit in his house and watch DVDs.

But Sheriff Grahame Fleming ignored his request and said he would not be handing the 30-year-old hours of unpaid work just to give Aird “something to do.”

Fiscal depute Danielle Clark told the court how police had found 1.5g of heroin and 3g of cannabis resin worth a total of £85 in his Livingston home when they searched it on October 26.

Last week at the court Aird, whose address was given as Poplar Grove, Craigshill, pled guilty to possessing the drugs.

His solicitor, Ian Bryce, told the court his client had struggled with a heroin addiction for a long time.

Mr Bryce added: “He was committing lots of offences and then there was a large gap in offending when he was on a long term methadone programme.

“The drugs which were found here were for personal use. He went back to dabbling in heroin and as your lordship will know dabbling in heroin usually leads back to addiction.

“His GP says he needs something to fill his day and he tells me he finds it difficult as he spends a lot of time in his house during the day watching DVDs.

Placing Aird on probation for one year Sheriff Fleming said: “I do consider it appropriate to place you on probation. I am not prepared to give you a number of unpaid hours of work just to give you something to do.

“I am sure, however, that the social work department can point you in the right direction if you want something to do.”