Falkirk cocaine dealer avoids jail due to limited criminal record

Lewis Green (22) appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday having admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Green, of 19 Nursery Road, was arrested following a police raid on his home on September 3, during which officers uncovered a £600 haul of the class A substance.

Procurator fiscal depute Catherine Fraser said: “Twenty-one bags containing a white substance were found along with other drug paraphernalia and mobile phones.

“The accused was arrested. The 21 bags tested positive for cocaine at 21.5 grams, with a street value of £600.”

As he addressed Green’s defence solicitor, Stephen Biggam, Sheriff Derek Hamilton said: “He’s certainly not getting awards for entrepreneurship.

“This is astonishing – he gets a mortgage break and he decides to buy cocaine to make more money.”

Mr Biggam told the Sheriff his client had brought an end to his dealing and planned to get rid of his flat, move back in with his mother and pay off debts.

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Sheriff Hamilton questioned a request by Green, detailed in a background report, for “time off to walk the dog” should he be made subject to a restriction of liberty order, adding: “He’s not really lived in the real world.”

Labelling his client as “very immature”, Mr Biggam replied: “There’s much he has to learn. He’s a work in progress and someone who needs to learn to do better.

“He’s been carried in a cushion in his life so far.”

The court heard Green has not committed an offence since and had no prior convictions.

Addressing him directly, Sheriff Hamilton said: “You’ve now got a conviction which labels you as a drug dealer and drug dealers normally get sent to jail.

“Taking into account you’re a first offender, I will stop short of sending you to custody.”

Green was made subject to a community payback order involving supervision for 18 months and a six-month, 6pm-6am restriction of liberty order.

He was warned he would be imprisoned if he re-offended or breached the terms of the court order.

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