INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT: Liverpool man spared jail sentence for dealing cocaine
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A search warrant executed on an Inverness property led to the arrest of the dealer.
Inverness Sheriff Court was previously told that James Donahue (35) had been found by police officers in the bathroom of a property in the city's Torvean Avenue on August 30, 2018, with a package of drugs in the toilet bowl.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said that another package had been found in a cabinet in the house, along with a number of messages which indicated tht Donahue was involved in drug dealing.
The drugs recovered weighed a total of 16.9 grams and were reported to have a maximum street value of £480.
During proceedings Mr Weir also lodged a Proceeds of Crime application to confiscate £1556 on cash.
This was granted by Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald.
Donahue, described as a prisoner at Barlinnie, appeared for sentencing before Sheriff Macdonald last week.
He had been remanded at the Glasgow prison for a total of 125 days after giving himself up following the issue of an arrest warrant.
He admitted being concerned in the supply of drugs and failing to appear for a court hearing.
His solicitor, Graham Mann, explained that his non-appearances were because his client suffered from poor mental health “before the offence and leading up to it, which goes hand in hand with an ever-escalating problem with drugs.”
He added that when Donahue became aware of the warrant for his arrest his mother travelled with him to Scotland to hand himself in.
“There has been no further offence of this type since 2018,” he added.
He asked the sheriff not to further jail his client as the amount of drugs was of relatively low value and Donahue had already served the equivalent of an eight month prison sentence.
Sheriff Macdonald agreed. She ordered Donahue to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and remain under social work supervision for 18 months.
