A Perth drug dealer, caught with almost 25 grammes of cocaine at his flat, has been spared jail - at least for the time being.
Sentence was deferred on 22-year-old Suniel Rashid, of Andrew Heiton Court, until July 28 to monitor his progress on a community payback order imposed last August for a similar offence.
The latest incident took place at a house in Perth ’s Dunkeld Road on March 5, 2020, when he admitted being concerned in the supply of the class A drug.
He was subject to a June 24, 2019, bail order from Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court at the time.
Not guilty pleas were accepted to further charges of being in possession of cannabis and having a number of counterfeit Bank of England £50 notes in his control.
Depute fiscal Andrew Harding told Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday that police turned up at the flat in Dunkeld Road with a search warrant about 10.40am that day.
“The accused answered the door and allowed them entry.”
A search of the bedroom led to officers seizing three wraps, weighing 10 grammes, 7.7 grammes and seven grammes.
A set of scales, with white powder on them, was also recovered.
The powder later tested positive for cocaine but no cash value was given.
A solicitor for the accused said: “He takes full responsibility for this.”
It would be of “great concern” to the court that Rashid had unpaid work, a direct alternative to a jail term, imposed last August for an “analogous offence”.
He had 50 hours of work outstanding and the order was due to finish in two months’ time.
“The court will seriously be considering the imposition of a prison sentence - and he has come prepared,” added the lawyer.
He pointed out his client has a young family, is in full-time work and would “welcome” further support by way of a community-based sentence.
The earlier drugs offence had taken place between May 17 and June 21, 2019.
Sheriff Bowie told Rashid that “without giving any guarantee,” he would defer sentence until July 28 to give him a chance to complete as many of the outstanding hours of that order as possible.
It might then be possible to impose a further order, with the maximum amount of hours available.
A separate proceeds of crime action, where the prosecution is seeking to claw back cash obtained by the accused from his illegal activities, was continued to the same date.
