A drug dealer who thought he was providing a “social service” to friends and family has been jailed.
Robert Hay, 46, was found with 11.1g of heroin, a Class A drug, at his home in Balunie Avenue on May 4.
He admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin, as well as two separate charges of possession at the same address in June and August last year.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard how Hay, a prisoner at Perth, had been supplying heroin to his girlfriend and friends from his home.
Police found scales as well as other equipment and paraphernalia after raiding the property.
His lawyer, Kris Gilmartin, said Hay, had previously found success in a drug treatment testing order but suffered a relapse following the deaths of several family members.
The solicitor added that Hay would benefit from another drug treatment order as opposed to a prison sentence.
Mr Gilmartin said: “The report indicates Mr Hay would benefit from a drug treatment assessment.
“He’s stabilised in prison and seems motivated to change.
“He accepts in this report he has to change his lifestyle.
“There’s a clear indication he wants to change, wants to stop using drugs and fundamentally wants to understand why it is affecting other people. Your lordship heard a sorrowful report of various losses that caused him to turn back to drugs.”
Sheriff George Way took a dim view of Hay’s attitude towards the offences, as described to the author of his criminal justice social work report.
He said: “I find the report lukewarm and what they are really saying is to see if Mr Hay can prove himself.
“As far as the whole issue of how this came about, my real concern is Mr Hay does not seem to understand or accept what he’s doing is a completely unanswerable crime.
“He’s suggesting he’s doing his best to keep this all contained and that by selling to his girlfriend and others in his social group he’s almost providing a social service.
“His attitude in the report is wholly unacceptable and I am not satisfied that anything other than a custodial sentence will suffice in this case.”
Hay was sentenced to 23 months in prison backdated to May 5.
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