Mother’s death blamed for Arbroath man’s drug misuse

An Arbroath man was fined £200 at the town’s sheriff court after he admitted possessing cannabis.

John Strathdee, 42, of Newton Avenue, admitted possessing the drug at his home address on February 22. Depute fiscal Hazel Anderson said a search warrant was executed after receiving confidential information.

She said: “Police found several items of drug preparation, including two grinders, two pipes and packets of seeds, as well as 29.5 grammes of the drug, with an illicit value of £295.”

Defence agent Billy Rennie said his client had “returned to drug misuse in the last two years following the death of his mother.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson also granted forfeiture of the items of drug paraphernalia.