A cocaine addict who let a “significant street operation” be run from his flat to pay off his drug debt has been ordered to carry out 250 hours of community service.
Cops came across the large scale production line up at Graeme Reid’s flat after they turned up to check if there had been a break-in.
A neighbour had reported that the door to the Main Street flat in Barrhead had been left insecure after being forced open, leading to the chance discovery.
When officers turned up, they found swathes of drug paraphernalia including hydraulic presses, bags of white powder and digital scales.
This prompted officers to draft in a team with a search warrant, which uncovered the scheme.
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Procurator fiscal depute David McDonald previously told the court: “Police knocked on the door and received no response, therefore both officers entered the premises to ensure everything was in order.
“They noted that there was no one at the property but there was clear signs of drug production and supply with white powder visible on cupboards and worktops.
“Police exited the property to await the arrival of other officers and for a drug search warrant to be sought.
“Police also contacted the landlord who contacted the tenant, Graeme Reid, who said he had no knowledge of a break in.”
During the “extensive” search of the flat, located in the town’s Main Street, a number of items relating to drug supply and production were recovered, including a safe under the sink containing six bags of white powder and another gold foil bag containing white powder; a pestle and mortar; two sets of digital scales; a food mixer; a hydraulic press and plates and a number of utensils found in different locations in the property.
All items contained traces of white powder.
Cops also found paperwork belonging to Reid as well as a KFC receipt from Darnley in Glasgow that officers used to check CCTV at the fast food outlet proving Reid purchased items there.
The court heard that during forensic examinations of the powder and items found, only one of the six bags contained cocaine, weighing 53.5g.
The five other bags - three weighing 250g and two weighing 115g, were found not to contain any controlled drugs.
The gold foil bag contained 53.9g of benzocaine - a anaesthetic substance commonly used as an additive in street cocaine.
Mr McDonald told the court that the 53.5g bag of cocaine had a value of £1,000 and that the hydraulic presses were used to compress the substances into blocks into the style of an imported product to “increase value”.
He added: “The accused admitted he was the tenant of the property but that he had allowed someone else to live there.
“He denied any knowledge of the cocaine but during his interview he admitted to using cocaine every day.
“He claimed the presses were there because he had been doing ‘homers’ for clients on their cars.
“He stated he had run up debts regarding his cocaine use and that his fingerprints may be found on the disposable gloves as he used them for work.”
Reid admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class-A drug on October 31, 2018.
His lawyer told that Reid became involved in the drug operation was “heavily indebted” due to his use of the Class-A drug.
Mr Lanigan said: “He was advised there was a way to stop this and that was to agree to this enterprise which he then foolishly agreed to do.
“He accepts his abuse of cocaine got out of control and was the worst year of his addiction.
“He provided the facilities to try to mitigate his debt stop the threats and get some cocaine for himself.”
Sheriff Brian Mohan said evidence uncovered signalled the flat was being used in a “significant street operation” despite there being limited controlled drugs found.
He added: “This is an extremely serious matter, you plead guilty to the supply of a Class-A drug.
“Custody has to be at the forefront of the court's consideration.
“You were concerned in the supply of the drug as you allowed your house to be used for the production.
“In all the circumstances, I am able to take a step back from a custodial sentence.”
Reid, now of Whithope Road, South Nitshill, Glasgow, was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work within the community within one year as a “direct alternative to custody.”
Reid was also made subject to supervision of the social work department for 12 months.
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