Inverness Sheriff Court hears drug-dealing duo have changed
Two diamorphine dealers escaped prison when they appeared for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court following preparation of background reports on the pair.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank was told that police were suspicious when they twice saw a car in an alley known to be a location where drugs are dealt but it sped off.
However, the vehicle was later tracked down in the Merkinch area in Inverness on the night of May 10, 2023, and two of the occupants were 25-year-old Courtney Smith, of Myrtletown Park, Inverness and 38-year-old Liam Munro, of Oldtown Road, Inverness.
A search then discovered heroin with a street value of a total of £2820 in various wraps and containers in a Kinder egg which Munro admitted was his, and more diamorphine in Smith's handbag. Cash totalling £101.47 was also found.
Smith and Munro admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and were represented by Shahid Latif and Graham Mann.
Mr Latif told the court: "My client only had a fleeting possession of these drugs which explains the finding of her DNA on them while in the vehicle. She has written a letter to the court to state her current circumstances."
Sheriff Cruickshank said he read her correspondence and added: "I fully accept that there has been a sea change in her."
Mr Mann said his client had also changed, stating: "He is a very different individual than the one who was arrested two years ago."
Sheriff Cruickshank placed both under social work supervision for 15 months, ordered Smith to carry out 180 hours of unpaid community work and Munro to do 270 hours.
