A dozy drugs-on-wheels dealer was caught with cocaine worth thousands of pounds after falling asleep in his car on a Dundee street.
Alan Wallace was “struggling to keep his eyes open” when officers tapped on his window following a complaint from a nearby resident.
The East-ender was 500 miles from home when he was arrested in Dundee’s Duncarse Road on November 18, 2020.
Perth Sheriff Court heard officers decided to search his Audi TT after finding a small capsule of cannabis in his jacket pocket.
They recovered more than £6,000 of class A cocaine separated into a hundreds of small packages, as well as other drugs paraphernalia including weighing scales and snapbags.
Smell of cannabis
Wallace, from Newham, London, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and pled guilty to a second charge of possession cannabis.
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie told the court: “Police received a phone call on November 18, regarding a man who appeared to be sleeping in an Audi TT.
“At around 7.25am, officers attended. The accused was woken up in his vehicle.”
Ms Ritchie told the court: “Police were under the impression the accused was under the influence, due to his presentation.
“There did not appear to be a smell of alcohol, however there was a strong smell of cannabis.
“He was slurring his speech, was slow to react and was struggling to keep his eyes open.”
Wallace, 32, was searched and a small black capsule containing herbal matter was found on his person.
He was placed in the back of the police car, while more officers were brought in to help search his vehicle.
They found several packages including an Asda Bag For Life, an iPhone, a blue tin containing cannabis and a concealed amount of cash.
Among the haul was about £6,280 of cocaine separated into 220 plastic bags.
The total amount of drugs recovered was valued at nearly £7,000.
Ms Ritchie confirmed that the Crown will use Proceeds of Crime powers to reclaim an undisclosed amount of cash found.
Break-up led to crime
A solicitor for Wallace confirmed his client would not oppose formal forfeiture of the money.
“He lives with his parents in London,” he said. “He doesn’t have a significant record. He has a previous conviction for possession of cannabis.
“Mr Wallace became embroiled in this matter following an addiction problem, which led to the breakdown of a relationship.”
The lawyer said Wallace had not been in any further trouble since his arrest more than two years ago.
“I would ask that the court keeps all options open and continue Mr Wallace’s bail.”
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael told Wallace: “I’m going to ask for a background report and this case will call again in a few weeks.”
The sheriff said the court was considering the English equivalent of a Restriction of Liberty curfew. “There may be some kind of assessment carried out on your residence to see if electronic monitoring can be put in place,” he said.
Wallace, of Johnstone Road, was released on bail. He will be sentenced at Dundee Sheriff Court in May.
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