A woman who sold a diazepam tablet to a “mickey-taking” 15-year-old in an Angus street has been jailed for three months.
Carrie Crookshank found herself the focus of ridicule by a group of youngsters in Arbroath after they saw her staggering around outside a shop in the town’s Leonard Street in March.
The children took selfies with her after she offered to deal the drug at a rate of £1 a tablet or 10 for £8, but when a pill was purchased by a 15-year-old boy another youngster called the police and Crookshank was arrested.
Crookshank has been held in custody since the March 31 offence and had prepared a hand-written letter of apology for her appearance before Sheriff Gregor Murray at Forfar.
However she was told there was no alternative to imprisonment.
Depute fiscal Kirsten Thomson said the offence happened around 8.30pm when a group of children outside the shop saw the accused under the influence and staggering around.
“They observed the accused for a while and saw her walking around and banging on doors,” said the fiscal.
“The police report describes them as almost taking the mickey out of her and winding her up.
“During the conversation they got talking about drugs and she offered the boy a tablet and said it was valium.
“The child gave her £1 and five minutes later he chucked the tablet away.
“The group took selfies with her and continued to take the mickey out of her, but one youngster called the police.”
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said Crookshank, of Kinloch Street, Carnoustie accepted it was a serious charge, but had little memory of what had gone on.
He added: “She had no idea of his age, and sadly no recollection of this.
“This occurred just at the conclusion of a high tariff structured deferred sentence.
“There has been a pattern for her over the years of doing well when support is in place, and unfortunately not doing so well when that support is removed.”
Sheriff Murray told Crookshank: “As you yourself have said in your letter, the matter of supplying drugs at this level and in these circumstances is one where there is likely to be no alternative to a custodial sentence, but I accept there were mitigating factors.”
