An Angus man who supplied drugs to fund his own detoxification from heroin has been imprisoned.
Richard Buick’s home in Arbroath was searched by police after they received information he was selling drugs in November 2013.
The officers found 450 tablets of class C drug diazepam, which a court heard was part of a scheme to help him off a heroin habit.
The 34-year-old appeared at Forfar yesterday and admitted being concerned in the supply of the drug.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said: “Police received intelligence the accused was concerned in the supply of drugs.
“A search warrant was executed on November 5 2013 at 3.40pm and strips of tablets were found in the kitchen and the bedroom.
“Mobile telephones were found with drug-related text messages relating to the sale of diazepam.”
On being interviewed by police on December 12 that year, Buick admitted his intention was to supply others with the drugs.
Defending Buick, solicitor Billy Rennie did not object to forfeiture of the mobile phones, and said his client had been a drug user for a number of years.
“The heart of that is he seeks periods of detoxification,” he said.
“He has a recurring difficulty with heroin.
“To try and rid himself of the heroin problem, he has turned to what are considered softer drugs such as diazepam.
“He has financed that himself but the lack of work on occasion means the finances weren’t there to support himself detoxifying, so he has sold the drugs to friends and associates.
“He is not making good money out of drug users, by any stretch of the imagination.
“He also has a notable record of offending which he knows the court will have to consider.”
Buick, of St Thomas Crescent, admitted being concerned in the supply of diazepam between October 30 and November 5 2013, while on bail.
Jailing Buick for eight months, visiting Sheriff Simon Collins said custody “was inevitable”.
“There is no alternative to custody in this case given the charge and your record,” he said.
“There is also the outstanding community payback orders and non-compliance in those cases.”