A Fife woman who used her mother’s inheritance money to buy heroin has been placed under supervision.
Rhona Hunter was told “it is imperative” she gets help after she spent £700 she received from her late mother’s estate to buy diamorphine.
The drugs were for selling on within a “close circle”.
Hunter, of Kirke Park in Methil, had been found by police asleep at the wheel in the car park in Kirkcaldy’s Beveridge Park.
The 39-year-old was in the driver’s seat of her Ford Fiesta in the early hours of the morning and officers were initially unable to wake her.
Last month, Hunter admitted to being concerned in the supply of diamorphine at on October 8, 2019 and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
Found mother’s body
Defence solicitor David Bell told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court Hunter had been jailed for an analogous offence in 2010 but had only been prosecuted for minor traffic offences since then.
Mr Bell explained Hunter had made “fairly significant progress” and moved into college education since her spell in prison but relapsed into her old drug habit following the sudden death of her mother.
He revealed it was Hunter who discovered her mother’s body.
“She’s a lady who, in the past, has struggled with drug misuse.
“She didn’t cope well and returned to drug use.
“She stated that at the time of the incident on October 8, she was not in a good place in terms of her drug use.
“In that time period, she was misusing drugs heavily.
“She was going to use drugs and provide these to others in a close circle.”
‘Stark reality’
Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane spared Hunter prison.
She placed her under supervision for the next two years and issued a Restriction of Liberty Order, banning her from leaving her home between 7pm and 7am.
Hunter was also disqualified from driving for 15 months.
The sheriff said: “The stark reality is whether it’s custody or a direct alternative.
“There are a number of matters that allow me to step back from sending you to prison.
“I’m a bit concerned about your attitude towards the drug agencies that are there to assist you.
“I hope you will take this opportunity to engage with them.
“You’ve had difficulty for some years.
“It’s imperative that you get help.”
Found in car park
At a previous hearing, fiscal depute Ron Hay told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court police on patrol drove into the Beveridge Park car park at 1am and saw Hunter’s Ford Fiesta.
“The accused was slumped in the car. The windows of the car were steamed up.
“They approached the car and could see the keys in the ignition.
“They knocked on the window several times and did not get a response.
“One of the officers opened the driver’s door and the accused woke up.
“She was slurring her words.
“She was asked to exit the vehicle, which she did and officers noted she was unsteady on her feet.
“They formed the view she was intoxicated.”
A search uncovered 53.5g of heroin – a £4000 amount deemed “too great for personal use” – and drug paraphernalia.
Hunter had paid just £700 for the heroin but it could increase in value depending how it was packaged.
