Former soldier turned heroin dealer avoids a jail term

A former serviceman who turned to heroin dealing has escaped being sent to jail and instead will be placed on a ‘tag’ for a year.

Arthur Muir (61), of South Street, Lochgelly, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He previously admitted that on 28th March last year at North Street, Lochgelly, he was concerned in the supply of a controlled drug, diamorphine.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said, “Prior to the accused being stopped, police had received some intelligence about his involvement with drugs.

“He was driving his vehicle at 1.50pm in North Street when he was stopped. He was detained under the Misuse of Drugs Act and searched.

“The accused volunteered to police, ‘I have kit in here’ and gestured with his head towards his front left jacket pocket.

“A Kinder egg was recovered with a number of foil wraps. There was 2.2 grams of heroin valued at £220. He was arrested and asked if he was a drug dealer. He said, ‘Well, yes. I buy them from somebody then sell them on to fund my habit’.”

Referring to injecting heroin, Muir added, “Every penny I get goes into my legs.”

Defence agent Chris Sneddon said his client had been a corporal in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and later had a good work history in civilian life.

“His life went badly off track when his partner died and he then developed a fairly significant heroin habit,” added the solicitor.

Sheriff Charles MacNair said dealers in Class A drugs should expect a custodial sentence except in exceptional circumstances.

However, he decided this was one such occasion and instead imposed a community payback order with three years’ supervision and a 12-month restriction of liberty order.