A Fife man who ran a makeshift heroin dealing operation from his homeless hostel has been jailed for more than three years.
Liam Davis, 39, admitted possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply at Dunfermline’s James Bank Hostel in James Street on August 7.
Appearing via video link from HMP Perth at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, the court heard how police visited the hostel looking for Davis on an unrelated matter and were granted entry to his room by staff.
They found Davis sleeping and spotted a silver tin and some brown powder lying near him.
Fiscal Ronnie Hay said a set of black scales were also found, along with cash in £5, £10 and £20 denominations and other drug paraphernalia including foil and citrus.
Around £2,170 in cash was initially discovered, along with up to £200 worth of heroin. Further searches of the flat uncovered a mobile phone, bags of cash and other containers which were found to contain drugs.
Two separate bags contained more than 54g of diamorphine, with a street value ranging between £800 and £2,500.
Another container contained 7.89g of heroin, which has a street value estimated at £250.
In total, more than £4,500 in cash was also seized by officers who conducted the search.
Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said his client had managed to stay away from drugs after being released from a prison sentence in October 2017 but relapsed into substance misuse.
Mr Flett pointed out drug use was “fairly extensive” at the hostel for homeless people in which Davis found himself, which had not helped him avoid getting back into bad habits.
“He tells me he was using about 3g a day at times, which is between £80 and £90 worth,” the solicitor added.
Sheriff James Williamson noted it was the fifth time since 2010 Davis had appeared before the court on indictment, and said there was no alternative to a custodial sentence – 40 months on this occasion.
