Detectives searching a drug dealer’s home in Perth were interrupted by a teenage boy looking to buy cannabis, a court has heard.
The 15-year-old took to his heels when he found the city centre property swarming with uniformed officers.
He was chased down the street and eventually caught. He later admitted he had visited the home that morning to buy drugs.
Hussan Muwanga appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday, having previously admitted being involved in the supply of cannabis from his old Scott Street flat on July 1.
He was jailed for 180 days.
The 28-year-old’s property was raided by police after they received a tip-off he had been selling drugs to schoolchildren.
Officers found nearly 30 grammes of cannabis, separated and sealed into 20 so-called snap bags, as well as £535 in cash.
The cannabis had a street value of almost £300, the court heard.
The youngster arrived at the house about an hour into the search. He rang the intercom and spoke to one of the officers.
“He ran off and was chased,” said depute fiscal Stuart Richardson. “He was caught and taken in for interview where he admitted that he had gone to the flat to buy cannabis there.”
The drugs found had been arranged into 16 bags of about 1.2 grammes along with another four containing 2.2 grammes.
Solicitor David Holmes said Muwanga, now of Viewlands Place, had previously lived in England, but had moved to Perth after he was assaulted.
“As a result of this attack, he suffers muscle spasms and he was using cannabis to try and deal with this,” said Mr Holmes.
“Much of what was found was for his own personal use, although he does accept the charge against him,” he added.
He said the money found in the flat had been “legitimately obtained”.
Mr Holmes said his client, who is a father, had been remanded since his last court appearance at the start of the month. He said: “His period in custody had a major impact on him in terms of family life.”
Sheriff Fiona Tait told Muwanga: “I’m not persuaded, given the serious matter of this offence, that there is any alternative to custody.”
She ordered the court to seize the money found at Muwanga’s flat.
