Inverness drug dealer facing possible jail time after police find cannabis stash
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An Inverness drug dealer has been told he may be facing jail after being caught with thousands of pounds of cannabis.
Michael MacRae (33) admitted two drug offences relating to supply when he appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said police on mobile patrol pulled over his Mercedes on May 9 , 2021, after recognising him as being a person of interest in relation to possible drug dealing.
They set off their sirens and blue lights in order to speak to him.
However, MacRae ran off from the stopped vehicle with a rucksack and had to be later traced in a nearby garden.
The discarded rucksack was also recovered with five lots of a “herbal substance” found within it.
More than £80 of cash was also found in MacRae’s wallet, the court heard.
A search warrant was subsequently carried out an address on Evan Barron Road which resulted in £18,500 of cannabis being discovered.
Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald was told by Mr Weir that this was the street value of the class B drugs which were found within jars hidden across the property.
One of the jars was found in a fridge freezer in the property, the court was told.
DNA was also used to show that MacRae had been in possession of the rucksack.
The whole incident took place between 4.35pm and 4.55pm on the day.
When questioned by police about the drugs he made no comment to the allegations.
However, he admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug when he appeared in court.
MacRae’s partner Chelsea Miller also appeared alongside him. She had her not guilty pleas to similar drug charges as well as an additional charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice accepted by the Crown and she was allowed to leave the dock.
Sheriff MacDonald deferred sentence on MacRae until March 20 for the preparation of social work background reports on his personal circumstances.
But addressing defence agent Marc Dickson, the sheriff added: “Your client will be aware that custody is utmost in the court’s mind.”
MacRae, of Ashie Road, was released on bail in the meantime and will return to court next month to find out his fate.
