An Angus drug dealer whose stash was uncovered after police raided the family home he shared with his mother has received a Community Payback Order.
Andrew Taggart had more than £200 worth of Class B cannabis at the New Wynd property in Montrose at the beginning of this year after drugs squad officers had received a tip-off that he was dealing from the property.
Depute fiscal Kirsten Thomson told Forfar sheriff court that Taggart had been homeless at the time, but was staying several evenings a week at his mum’s house.
Police obtained a search warrant in light of the intelligence they received and Taggart’s mother was the only person in the property, the fiscal said.
Offices found digital scales, dealer bags, a grinder £50 in cash and 17.9 grammes of cannabis, with an illicit value of between £170 and £255.
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski: “He committed offences in his younger day but his offending has slowed down.
“There were difficulties in his relationship, which broke down last year, and at the time of the offence he was extremely low.
“He was staying with his mother and smoking far too much cannabis himself,” added Mr Markowski.
“Around half of the cannabis would have been smoked by himself and the other half sold to friends to finance it.”
The court heard Taggart, 29, who admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of the drug at New Wynd on January 29. Has recently obtained work as a landscape gardener.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio said he was concerned by a criminal justice social work report which had expressed doubts over the accused’s involvement in any community-based disposal.
“The report was pretty clear that they didn’t want him any more because he had caused so much trouble,” said the sheriff.
“Notwithstanding the adverse aspects of the report I am persuaded I can deal with it in that way, but as an alternative to prison.
“If you do not comply then what will follow will be pretty inevitable from your point of view,” he added.
Taggart must complete 120 hours of unpaid work under the CPO.
