Two men caught with cocaine at a Wishaw supermarket car park have narrowly avoided prison.
Ross Bell and Connor Thomson, both 22, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week.
They admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine at Tesco in Belhaven Road on June 9 last year.
The court heard police officers seized £1400 worth of the Class A drug.
Solicitor Andy Thomson, appearing for Bell, described his client as “a genuine first offender” who has been in no trouble since.
Mr Thomson stated: “He was a cocaine user and found himself on a downward spiral.
“He owed money and the only way out was to get involved in this. It was very low level.
“He is from a responsible family and is anxious about the outcome of this case.
“He is now cocaine-free, having addressed his problem.”
Diarmid Bruce, defending Thomson, pointed out that he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and has no other cases outstanding.
Mr Bruce added: “He made a bad error of judgment and significant steps have been taken to prevent this happening again.
“The criminal justice social work report on him is good.”
Passing sentence, Sheriff Colin Dunipace told Bell, of Raven Wynd, and Thomson, of Louisville Avenue, both Wishaw:
“A conviction for being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug nearly always leads to custody.
“Taking on board everything that’s been said and the background reports, I am able to deal with you in another way, but you are very close to custody.”
Both men will be under social work supervision for 18 months and must carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work.
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