Veteran junkie caught with 10 bags of heroin

Nov 19 2008 by Gordon Robertson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

A VETERAN junkie found in possession of individually wrap-ped bags of heroin denied he was dealing drugs.

Joseph Love (39) of Jarvie Avenue, Plains, and another man were stopped by cops on Wester Mavisbank Avenue in Airdrie on Monday, March 3.

Unemployed Love had £180 in cash on him as well as 10 bags of the class A drug.

The accused admitted being in possession of the heroin and having a long-standing drug problem.

But he insisted the heroin was for his and his partner’s personal use when he appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Petra Collins asked why quantities of the drug would have to be individually “bagged” if it was for personal use.

Love’s lawyer said his client used heroin in a different way from his partner, who also has a drug problem.

He said: “Their method of taking it was different. She would smoke it and he would inject it.

“After taking it for a long period of time he is aware of the risk of overdosing.”

The court heard that Love was on a methadone programme but had suffered a relapse.

He asked to be considered for a Drug Treatment Test Order but was considered “unsuitable.”

Love’s lawyer argued that despite his client’s age and length of addiction, there was “light at the end of the tunnel”.

Sheriff Collins deliberated before deciding Love was suitable for community service.

She told him it was a direct alternative to imprisonment and that if he did not comply he could expect to be sent to jail.

Love was sentenced to 200 hours of community service, to be completed in the next 12 months.

He also had to forfeit the £180 in cash, which the police had confiscated at the time of his arrest.