A drug dealer was caught red-handed by cops as he was posting a parcel of ‘blue plague’ pills in Paisley.
Hapless James Kerr, 35, was seen acting suspiciously as he traipsed to the Post Office with an envelope stuffed with Class-C etizolam tablets, known as street Valium.
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Paisley Sheriff Court heard cops, acting on a tip-off, stopped him and discovered the package.
It contained almost 250 pills addressed to someone in Country Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
When police searched his flat, in the town’s Argyle Street, they discovered a haul of almost 3,800 etizolam pills and a rock of heroin worth around £120.
Procurator fiscal depute Keri Marshall told the court: “Police officers observed the accused hold a brown envelope in his right hand walking in the direction of Walker Street.
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“Officers got out their vehicle and approached the accused.
“As they did so, they observed the accused place the envelope in his left-hand side inner jacket pocket.
“The accused sped up his pace and attempted to walk up Walker Street, at which time police stopped the accused, who said he was going to the Post Office with a letter to send.
“He appeared nervous when speaking to the police. He wouldn’t make eye contact.
“Police officers were aware there was recent intelligence about the accused being involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the area.”
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A search revealed the envelope addressed to a person in County Tyrone contained 246 tablets and police immediately sought a search warrant for Kerr’s address.
Cops scoured his on January 4 and discovered 3,756 etizolam tablets and five grams of heroin. He was placed under arrest.
Kerr appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to charges of possession and being concerned in the supply of etizolam and possession of heroin, a Class-A drug.
Defence agent Rhona Lynch said her client had a heroin addiction and had been selling etizolam to fund his habit.
She urged the court to consider handing him a community-based sentence, comprising a drug treatment programme, to enable him to tackle his problems.
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Ms Lynch said Kerr has been in prison since he was arrested early in January and had served almost three months in jail already.
Sheriff Frances McCartney called for reports while warning Kerr.
He said: “Custody is at the forefront of my mind.”
He will learn of his fate when he appears for sentencing on May 22.
