GIRLS FELL ILL AFTER BUYING ECSTASY FROM DEALER
A 20-year-old man has appeared in court for selling drugs to schoolchildren, who fell ill and were taken to hospital.
Reiss Leighton used his Instagram account to publicise his drug-dealing and arranged to meet pupils during their school break to sell them ecstasy tablets.
Leighton, 20, of Donald Street, Dunfermline, appeared in the dock at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
He admitted that between 26th November 2023 and 13th February last year at Nith Street and Mackie Place, Dunfermline and elsewhere, he was concerned in the supply of a class A drug, ‘ecstasy’.
He also admitted that between 26th November and 30th December 2023 he was concerned in the supply of cocaine.
Depute fiscal Duncan McKenzie told the court that Leighton had an Instagram account using the name ‘Fifesmoke2023’ on which he posted he was selling ecstasy.
A 14-year-old contacted Leighton and they arranged to meet behind the health centre in Linburn Road at 7.20pm to buy two ecstasy tablets for £10.
This child and a 14-year-old friend each took a tablet. One of them started to feel ill, “was dizzy, vomited and felt as though she could not move”.
Both children were admitted to the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy that evening and kept in for observation overnight before being discharged the next day.
Police officers had attended the hospital and took statements from the children.
One of the girls later contacted Leighton again on 6th February last year and asked for a free sample. He provided her with a light pink tablet after meeting her again outside the doctor’s surgery.
On 8th February the same girl and two others left school at lunchtime and went to buy ecstasy from Leighton at the same location.
Two tablets were purchased for £5 and as they left the back of the surgery they were spotted by the dad of one of the girls.
He contacted the school to say he believed one of the girls had ecstasy.
Staff at the school recovered two tablets from the girl’s purse but she denied any knowledge of them.
Police were contacted, took statements from the girls and recovered the tablets.
One of the girls later showed her mum images of Leighton and police obtained a warrant for his then home in Mackie Place.
During the raid, police found ecstasy worth £200, cocaine worth £300 and £541 in cash. Mobile phones were seized and messages on them showed he had been selling drugs.
Defence solicitor Calum Harris said his client is in a full-time employment working in a warehouse.
He added, “He had his own drug problem which progressively led to this operation growing.”
Sheriff Robert More called for reports and Leighton will return to court for sentencing on 20th May.
