Police raid snares trio of Inverness drug dealers
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Three men who dealt drugs separately from the same house for over a year were all caught following a police raid.
The search occurred on September 20, 2019 when John Sutherland (39) and Gary Devlin (38) were lodging in the house in Kintail Crescent, Inverness.
The property was occupied by Kenneth MacIver (38) and all three appeared for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court after previously admitting being concerned in the supply of drugs between September 2018 and September 2019.
Sentence had been deferred for background reports but one was not available for Devlin, now of Cuthbert Road, Inverness and his case was deferred again until April 26.
However, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank decided to deal with the other two accused because there was no connection between their drugs enterprise.
The court heard that police recovered 451 grams of cannabis with a maximum street value of £5961 from Devlin's room.
They also found an air pistol which was not functional and he admitted possession of the firearm.
MacIver's drugs were 14,861 Etizolam tablets with a street value of between £2700 and £7740.
No drugs were found connected to Sutherland, now of Lodge Avenue, Inverness. But police seized his mobile phone and found messages which showed he was involved in the supply of cannabis.
Sutherland's lawyer solicitor advocate Neil Wilson said: "He has pled guilty to non-commercial and sporadic supply which the Crown accept. This was entirely separate from the other two accused. He had nothing whatsoever to do with whatever was going on with them."
MacIver's lawyer David Patterson said that drugs misuse had "always been present" in his client's life.
"His use was highest at this time," he added. "He developed a heavy addiction and ran up a debt. He was trying to clear his debt and maintain his habit. Since then, he has done everything he can to get sober, a job, and away from negative influences.
"It was a lesson learned and not to be repeated. He has ceased use of substances."
MacIver was ordered to be under social work supervision for a year and told to carry out 180 hours of unpaid community work.
Meanwhile, Sutherland was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid community work.
