Inverness sheriff gives heroin addict another chance
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A sheriff sympathised with an addict who she released from prison to be assessed for a drug treatment and testing order.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard Lee Dyce (34) had difficulty getting accommodation or benefits when he was liberated last month to meet social workers for suitablity assessment.
The court was told that his housing situation made it difficult to communicate with Dyce about further meetings.
Sheriff Neilson accepted the explanation provided by defence solicitor Marc Dickson and gave Dyce, of no fixed abode, another four weeks to engage with the drug treatment team about the testing order.
He is now due to attend court again on August 12, when he will learn if he is to be admitted to the programme or be returned to jail.
At a previous hearing, the court had been told that Dyce, who admitted committing a serious assault, became addicted to crack cocaine and heroin.
Historically he also had problems with alcohol the court was told.
His victim was attacked in an alley between Nelson Street and Madras Street in Inverness over an unpaid debt.
Knocked to the ground by Dyce, he had to have a metal plate surgically implanted to his fractured jaw to aid his recovery from the assault.
