A drug dealer caught with £50,000 worth of cannabis at a house in Paisley has been hit with another sentencing delay.
Ilir Viso, 27, an Albanian national, had kitted out a house for cannabis cultivation in the town’s Hillside Road.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Viso was discovered with 83 mature plants and 102 saplings following a police raid.
He was busted by cops following an intelligence-led operation on May 16, this year, where officers discovered rooms at the property were being used to grow the substantial crop of Class-B drugs.
He appeared from custody for sentencing on Thursday after pleading guilty to a charge of producing cannabis at the house.
Sheriff Bruce Erroch QC had called for background reports in preparation for sentencing him, when he learned of a request from the defence for an additional report.
Viso had previously appeared at court last month but he could not be dealt with because he was self-isolating following a covid outbreak in prison.
Defence agent Charlie McCusker asked the court to carry out a restriction of liberty assessment for an address in Salford, which would become available to accused in the event he is spared custody, and placed on an electronic tag.
Mr McCusker said: “He has already spent five months on remand in prison, the equivalent to a 10 month sentence, which would be reflected in any final disposal.
“Your Lordship will be aware that being on remand can be more difficult than serving a sentence.
“We have been in touch with the probation service in England and asked them about the suitability of an address in Salford for the purposes of carrying out a restriction of liberty order assessment.
“I would ask the court for a further adjournment for this to take place, so that option is available along with other disposals.”
He added his client, who participated in the hearing via an Albanian interpreter, had been involved in an “operation with the capability of the production of a significant amount of cannabis.”
The court heard the value of the cannabis was estimated to be between £26,000 and £50,000.
However Mr McCusker added Viso had only played a “lesser role” in the operation.
Sheriff Erroch said he was prepared to continue the case for inquiries with the probation service down south to be carried out.
He said: “I will further defer sentencing for the purpose of carrying out a restriction of liberty order assessment”
He remanded Viso in custody and ordered he be brought back to court on October 25, when he will discover his fate.
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