Dealer jailed for selling drugs to friends

A woman was sent to prison for supplying drugs when she appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Lesley Maclean, 29, of Browns Road, Lerwick, admitted being involved in supplying cannabis and amphetamine at Da Wheel Bar and at Browns Road and elsewhere between 1st October 2010 and 29th February 2012. Both are class B drugs.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said that Maclean had made “bad choices” and had problems with alcohol and drug use in the past. However she had tried to “better herself” by stopping drinking and reducing her drug use. She now had custody of her son and had obtained employment, which would be lost if she went to prison.

Making an impassioned plea to Sheriff Philip Mann for Maclean’s liberty, Mr Allan said his client wanted to impress on the court how sorry she was. 
She had spent Christmas with her son with the “shadow” of prison hanging over her, and this had been a “salutory lesson”.

She was now taking control of her life, and he urged the sheriff to “be creative” in imposing alternatives to prison.

But the sheriff was not convinced. He said the supply had gone on over an extended period – if it had been a single occasion he might have been persuaded to keep her out of prison.

Although the supply had been to friends it was serious because it made the drug dealer’s job easier, he said.
The sheriff added he had a duty both to punish and send out a message regarding drugs.

He said: “I regret to say I cannot see an alternative to custody. It [sending people to prison] is not something I like to do.”

Taking her early plea of guilty into account, he sentenced her to serve 19 weeks in custody, saying he hoped it would not cause difficulties for her son.