An Angus man who threw £550 worth of ecstasy out of a window after police arrived at his door with a drugs search warrant has narrowly avoided going to prison.
First offender Miles Riley had the class A drug for dealing to a circle of friends who were due to attend upcoming music events.
Riley, of Letham Mill, St Vigeans, Arbroath admitted being concerned in the supply of ecstasy on August 5 at a property in the town’s Glenogil Drive.
The 25-year-old’s solicitor also offered an Forfar sheriff court an apology for his client’s “poor attitude” towards social workers who prepared a report in the case.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said officers arrived at the flat around 7pm and Riley was seen climbing back in the living room window.
“He said he had thrown a bag of red tablets out of the window,” Ms Drummond told the court.
The pills were recovered, and when analysed were found to be 55 ecstasy tablets with a potential value of £550.
Defence agent John Hall said Riley’s attitude in his social work interview had been the result of “ignorance” over the seriousness of the charge the first-offender was facing.
“He certainly now understands the serious nature of this offence and that the matter will not simply be dealt with by a monetary penalty or an admonition,” he added.
“Notwithstanding his poor presentation at interview, there are parts of the report which are positive.
“He was frank in his admission that the drugs were supplied to a close circle of friends that had contributed to the purchase and it was for one or two music events.”
Mr Hall said the accused no longer had any involvement with drugs.
Sheriff Alison McKay told Riley: “Ecstasy is a class A drug and it is only the fact that this was a social supply and not a commercial one that enables me to deal with it other than by way of a custodial sentence.”
Riley was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work under a 12-month Community Payback Order.
