A mother sent her seven-year-old daughter to collect illicit drugs from a Coupar Angus dealer, a court has heard.
The youngster was sent to Cassie Leaver’s home in the town after her cannabis-smoking mum grew tired of waiting for delivery.
Pregnant Leaver herself a mum tucked a package of cannabis resin into the child’s pyjama pocket before sending her on her way.
The actions of the dealer, who was under the influence of a heavy dose of valium at the time, left even her partner shocked.
She avoided a prison sentence at Perth Sheriff Court, however, after a sheriff said the girl’s mother was every bit as much to blame.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis stayed his hand despite stating the 26-year-old’s use of the youngster as a drug mule was one of the most outrageous things he had ever heard.
“This offence was thoroughly reprehensible on the part of the accused, but equally so on the part of the child’s mother,” he said.
The court heard that Leaver’s increased notoriety in the wake of the incident and subsequent court appearance had forced her to leave the town and move to Forfar.
Depute fiscal Chris MacIntosh said the accused had been at home with her partner in Princes Croft, Coupar Angus, on February 19 when she received a text from her friend.
“She told her partner that a child was coming round shortly to pick up some ‘smoke’,” he said.
“The child came to the house and the accused picked up a piece of cannabis resin, before giving it to the child and telling her to go straight home to her mum.
“An argument then ensued between the accused and her partner, who was unhappy about the use of a child in such a fashion.”
The youngster returned home with the drugs without incident but Leaver was exposed after a council drugs worker became aware of the supply.
The court was told no money had exchanged hands for the drugs and no drugs had been found in her home when it was later searched by police.
Solicitor Steve Lafferty said his client, who is receiving help for problems with alcohol and drugs, knew using the child in such a way had been “entirely unacceptable”.
Leaver, now of Glenmoy Terrace, Forfar, admitted supplying cannabis to others and in particular to a seven-year-old girl.
Leaver was ordered to carry out 160 hours’ unpaid work and told she will be supervised by social workers for nine months.