Police found a clumsy cocaine dealer from Angus with a burst bag of white powder in his car.
Darren Milne hadn’t even been at liberty for two weeks following his last prison sentence when he was snared in Arbroath.
Milne had spilled cocaine inside his car and told police he didn’t know what it was when they pulled him over.
The 27-year-old will be sentenced later this summer after admitting the drugs he was peddling could have fetched more than £5,000.
‘Working off a debt’
This week, Milne appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court to admit being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug on September 10 in 2020.
Fiscal depute Christine Allan said Milne had been released from HMP Perth on August 31.
Police were on mobile patrol at around 2.30pm when they spotted Milne’s car at Arbroath’s Westway Retail Park.
Officers followed the vehicle onto Montrose Road and activated their blue lights for a routine check.
Milne stopped the car and was seen to have white powder on his waistband.
A ripped blue bag containing powder was spotted in the driver’s footwell and more white powder was visible on the centre console.
After searching Milne, police found another ripped blue bag.
They also uncovered more than £130 in cash and a mobile phone, which harboured incriminating messages and a tick list.
Milne told police: “You’ll find stuff in the car.
“I don’t know what it is, I picked it up in Dundee.
“I’m working off a debt.”
He was taken to Arbroath police station and the powder was found to be cocaine.
In total, the 56.42 grammes was estimated to be worth at least £2,200, but could fetch as much as £5,600 if sold in single gramme deals.
Milne was recalled to prison later that week, where he stayed until February 2021.
The 27-year-old’s solicitor Sarah Russo said: “Mr Milne is currently subject to a community payback order.”
She explained that sentence was imposed for offending which wasn’t drug-related.
Sheriff Mark Thorley ordered reports and continued Milne’s bail.
Milne, of City Road in Brechin, will be sentenced on July 25.
Previous dealings
In 2017, Milne admitted hiding cocaine in a locked bedroom in his grandfather’s house in Montrose.
Officers raided the property in Glenogil Street and found an 11.12g white rock of cocaine and benzocaine, scales and bags in the room.
They also found a padlock on a bedroom door.
At the same hearing, Milne pled guilty to keeping another stash of the Class A drug at his girlfriend’s Montrose home.
Police also found £5,790 of Milne’s cash during a second raid on his partner’s home in Christies Lane.
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