Drug dealer remains defiant

Ally McGilvray 1606 - 1606 • Published 14 Jan 2009 09:30 1 Comment

A CONVICTED drug dealer has vowed to continue his fight to legalise cannabis after being jailed for nine months for growing the drug in his home in Galashiels.

David Hamilton, 44, of Magdala Terrace, admitted being concerned in the

supply and production of the Class C drug during an earlier hearing at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

However, when he returned for sentence on Monday, he admitted he would continue to smoke cannabis.

Court heard police found plants with a street value of between £5000 and £8000, as well as various drugs paraphernalia, when they raided Hamilton's home on January 8 last year.

The dealer was said to have a "semi-professional" set-up but he insisted he only ever sold the illegal substance to two people and, while he conceded he would stop cultivation, claimed it was an "entirely non-commercial" operation.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Kevin Drummond said: "Your views on the matter are noted. My job is to apply the law as it is and not as some people might like it to be. And the scale (of production) is of such significance that it should be marked by a custodial sentence."

Meanwhile, a drug addict caught with heroin in a Galashiels street has been given four weeks to sort out his life.

Michael Wardle, 18, formerly of Stobshaw Terrace, Tweedbank, also admitted stealing a door entry system from the town"s B&Q on October 30 to fund his habit.

However, the court heard his dependency on drugs meant he was not suitable for community service, he had no income so was unable to pay a fine, and he appeared unwilling to take part in a Drugs Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO).

Sheriff Kevin Drummond noted that Wardle had been offered a new address at the Kings Hotel in Galashiels in the hope of turning his life around and deferred sentence for one month to give him a chance to prove he can behave.

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This article appeared in Border Telegraph 13 Jan 09

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  lord lucan
  Unregistered User
  May 12, 02:26
  Report comment

  to sheriff drummond yes sir your job is to apply the law within set out rules and ledgislation but i believe that it is unjust to treat cannabis users as criminals while heroine users are pittied and helped with methadone.european countries and u.s.a are now begining to accept cannabis use socialy, theraputicaly, medicinaly, this country is wrong
  
  to accept this maljustic. i am ashamed.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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