A construction worker caught with more than £65,000 worth of ecstasy and a large-scale cannabis farm has been jailed for 20 months.
Caileon Ward was caught with drugs with a potential street value of more than £110,000 during a pair of raids on his home and another property in Crieff.
Ward (22) was found with ecstasy in powder, tablet and liquid form and admitted he had been selling the class A drug for several months.
Perth Sheriff Court was told that the haul of powdered ecstasy found at his flat in Colville House had a potential street value of £52,000. A large number of tablets were also recovered with a value of £14,650.
The court was told that liquid ecstasy which was also recovered by police acting on a tip-off about Ward’s drug dealing operation had an unknown value.
Police Scotland was also given information that Ward was masterminding a large-scale cannabis operation at one of his friend’s homes in the town’s East High Street.
When officers raided the property in January last year they discovered a number of tents had been propped up around various rooms within the flat.
In total they recovered 73 cannabis plants with a potential drug yield of £43,800. Ward, of Colville House, Crieff, admitted producing cannabis between December 20, 2019, and January 22 last year.
He also admitted being concerned in the supply of ecstasy between October 21 last year and February 12 this year. The total value of all the drugs Ward was caught with amounted to £110,450.
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “Prior to his arrest he had been working in the construction industry. It was work he was enjoying and his employers were impressed with him.
“At that stage it looked like he was heading down a different road.” He said Ward had been told to look after the cannabis and felt under threat to get involved in dealing ecstasy.
Sheriff William Wood said: “While I take account of the fact this is your first conviction under the Misuse of Drugs Act, I cannot ignore your wider record.
“It is clear you have had a difficult and troubled upbringing and you don’t have your troubles to seek - but as an adult, it is up to you how your life turns out.
“You do need to be deterred from breaking the law. Only a custodial sentence is appropriate here.”
