Man tried to grind heroin into the ground

A man made a “ham-fisted attempt” at evading detection when he dropped heroin and tried to grind it into the ground with his foot.

Ebrahim Hassan, 51, of Gossaford, Brae, admitted dropping the Class A drug when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court yesterday. He also admitted a separate charge of possession.

Hassan had been approached by police officers in Lerwick’s Old North Road on 26th March when the incident happened.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said it had been clear from Hassan’s “clenched fist” that he had been carrying something. Officers saw him drop the substance, worth £60, to the ground and make a “ham-fisted attempt” to try to get out of the situation he had found himself in.

Sheriff Philip Mann said Hassan could be facing a custodial sentence, given his lengthy record which includes drug offences.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Hassan had been struggling after being released from his last prison sentence.

He said Hassan had been going through a relapse when the offence took place, but he was now trying to move on from that.

Mr Allan added that Hassan hoped to take up offers of work down south. He said his client had suffered a “panic reaction”.

He said: “It was not a situation where there was a long, drawn-out deceit, or a construct to avoid detection.”

Sheriff Mann said Hassan’s record meant a custodial sentence would be justified. But he called for background reports and said he was willing to look at alternatives.
Hassan was ordained to appear again on 30th October.