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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lanarkshire Live

Man jailed for asking two girls into Lanarkshire flat and offering them drugs

A man has been jailed for 20 months after asking two girls into his Motherwell flat then offering them drugs.

The children, aged 13 and 14, had gone to help David Whyte who was under the influence and struggling to stand up.

One of the girls took some street Valium and amphetamine pills home to show her dad what he had given them.

The young Good Samaritans went to Whyte’s rescue again a short time later when they found him slumped on the ground and called an ambulance.

Whyte, 34, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.

He admitted threatening or abusive behaviour in Burnside Court, Motherwell, on June 12, 2020.

Whyte also admitted offering the girls drugs and possession of a knife in nearby Shields Road on the same day.

The court heard the girls, who knew Whyte, saw him “stumbling around” and asked if he was all right.

Chloe O’Hara, prosecuting, said: “The accused asked them to come into the common close with him.

“The girls felt uneasy but followed, noting that he appeared to be slurring his words.

“He spoke about knowing the brother of one of the girls.

“Whyte seemed unable to get to his feet and the girls assisted him.

“He then put his arm around one of them, cuddled her and kissed her repeatedly on the forehead.

“She felt uneasy and pushed him away.

“Whyte began to climb the stairs and the girls were concerned that he might fall.

“He asked them to sit next to him. One of the girls felt scared and refused.

“The accused then asked both to go into his flat with him and they said no.

“He produced a bag containing numerous white tablets from his pocket, but they spilled on to the floor.

“Whyte began to pick them up and offered some to both girls.

“One of the girls picked up four tablets and she and her friend left. She went home and handed the tablets to her father.”

Ms O’Hara said the youngsters were in Shields Road a short time later when they saw Whyte lying on a grass verge.

As they approached he took a kitchen knife from his trouser pocket.

The fiscal added: “They saw he was beginning to shake and foam at the mouth.

“The girls were frightened and ran away. One of them called for an ambulance.

“Whyte was taken to hospital where he was detained overnight for observation.”

Defence agent Roberto Manini stressed there was no sexual motive behind Whyte’s behaviour.

He stated: “My client was completely intoxicated and has no recollection of these events. He knows that is no excuse.

“It must have been terrifying for the girls, but despite his actions they still tried to help him.

“It’s fortunate the girls were sensible enough not to consume the tablets.”

Mr Manini added that Whyte “clearly has underlying issues”.

Whyte failed to attend court for the case last year. He was arrested in February and has been in custody since.

Sheriff Liam Murphy backdated the 20-month prison sentence to February 2.

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