A sheriff has blasted a central belt council after social workers refused to assess a man facing jail for dealing drugs at Perth Prison.
Jack Boyd was remanded in custody last month after he admitted being concerned with the supply of heroin, cannabis and street valium at the maximum security jail.
Staff recovered drug packages worth hundreds of pounds that had been thrown over the prison walls.
Boyd’s DNA was found on the parcels but prosecutors are still trying to establish whether he was involved in getting them onto the prison grounds.
The 20-year-old, from Coatbridge, was due to be sentenced at Perth Sheriff Court this week but the court heard a crucial background report had not been prepared.
A memo to the court from North Lanarkshire Council stated its social work department was unable to carry out an assessment.
The authority suggested the court try Glasgow City Council instead, which had dealt with Boyd in the past.
Sheriff ‘concerned’ by council’s response
Sheriff Euan Duthie said: “This is a rather disappointing response from North Lanarkshire Council.
“I am disappointed that they have taken this position but I can’t understand on what basis they have taken this position.”
He said: “They have a statutory duty here but instead they are trying to palm us off to another local authority.
“It really isn’t good enough.
“Mr Boyd is entitled to have this matter dealt with as expeditiously as we can manage.”
The sheriff said he was considering bringing a senior council figure to court to explain why the report was not completed.
Solicitor Paul Ralph said: “I’m tempted to go down that route but I know that Glasgow-based social workers have actively been in touch with Mr Boyd’s agents.”
Sheriff Duthie agreed to let Glasgow social workers assess Boyd.
He added: “However, I am still concerned by this response and we need to take this further, perhaps not within the four corners of these proceedings.”
The sheriff refused a motion to release Boyd on bail, pending his sentence.
“He is unlikely not to get a custodial sentence for this, I would have thought,” he said.
The case was deferred until July 13.
A spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council said: “We are awaiting correspondence from the sheriff in relation to this legal case and will respond fully when we receive it.
“We would not publicly discuss any individual social work background reports.”
