Tesco Extra car park at Inverness Shopping Park was where drug addict was caught dealing cocaine
A cocaine dealer was caught by police when the 62-year-old addict was carrying out a sale in an Inverness supermarket car park.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that officers had received intelligence about Steven Murray's illegal activities and arrested him at Tesco Extra, at Inverness Shopping Park, on March 25 last year.
In his pockets were wraps of drugs and a mobile phone, fiscal depute Pauline Gair told the court. The prosecutor added that a search of Murray's house in Kintail Terrace, Inverness discovered 627 wraps of cocaine with a potential value of £12,540, 286 wraps of heroin with a maximum value of £8580 and £8860 in cash.
Defending, Patrick O'Dea told Sheriff Sara Matheson: "He has been struggling with a heroin addiction but he has taken matters into his own hands and sought help. He is now on a heroin replacement programme.
"There was an element of fear involved here and control was being exercised on him. If he had sought the shield of the law, he would not be here."
Murray admitted being concerned in the supply of drugs and was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid community work.
