A promising student has tarnished his future after being busted with a stash of the dance drug ecstasy.
First offender Lewis Earley, 21, was snared by cops with 25 pills of the Class A drug on him at Houston Road in Crosslee.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard the young man, who recently gained an HNC at Glasgow City College, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared in the dock before Sheriff Colin Pettigrew.
Procurator Fiscal Depute John Penman told the court: “The accused was in possession of ecstasy. This was 25 tablets with an approximate value of £250.”
He added that Earley had no previous convictions and that the Crown was accepting his plea to possession of the Class A drugs on November 29 last year.
Defence agent David Nicholson said the drugs rap would damage Earley’s future job prospects, once he finishes his college course.
He said: “He is 21 years of age and is presently in further education where he has gained an HNC at City College Glasgow and is going onto to commence his HND studies.
“He hopes to go on to university once he has completed that and he regrets and apologises for his involvement in this matter.
“There is no doubt this conviction will have an impact on his future employment going forward.”
The lawyer said that Earley, of Castleview Drive, Paisley, works part time and would be willing to pay a financial penalty.
Mr Nicholson didn’t say what Earley was doing with the drugs other than he had the ecstasy in his possession when stopped by
police.
Sheriff Pettigrew told the youngster: “I will deal with this today because you have no previous convictions and clearly recognise that now you have a conviction for drugs which will undoubtedly have some lasting effect on your position.”
He handed Earley a £300 fine.
