Drugs found in the freezer

Jul 2 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A MAN who was caught storing around 1.5kg of amphetamines in a burger box in his freezer has been jailed.

Police officers had reason to stop Matthew Anderson just after 7pm on July 11 last year.

They accompanied the 39-year-old to his Whitburn home and he allowed them to carry out a search of the house.

The officers found a bag containing white powder in Anderson’s freezer.

The house was then searched further and a police dog found more of the drug stored in a burger box in the freezer.

The amount found of the class B drug was just under 1.5kg with a street value of around £2700.

Last week at Linlithgow Sheriff Court, Anderson, whose address was given as West Main Street, Whitburn, pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of the drug.

His solicitor, Peter Mullin, told the court, his client had been storing the drugs for his dealer to pay off a debt.

Mr Mullin added: “Regardless of his reason for being involved in the supply of a controlled drug he is the first to accept that the court will be considering a custodial sentence in relation to this matter.

“He has been frank enough to admit to the court that he does abuse certain drugs.

“He does have a relatively limited schedule of previous convictions.

“Over the course of 16 years he has only accrued eight convictions.

“It is eight too many but only one is for a drugs conviction.”

Jailing Anderson for 12 months Sheriff Martin Edington said: “Being concerned in the supply of drugs is an extremely serious charge.

“You have a number of previous convictions including a recent one for the misuse of drugs.

“You continue to abuse drugs yourself and you offend while on bail.

“Mr Mullin is right that an involvement on this scale does normally lead to a custodial sentence.

“It is my view that this court has no option but to deprive you of your liberty and you will be going to prison.”