Addict feared attack by dealers

Jun 17 2011 by Colin Rutherford, Kilmarnock Standard

A HEROIN addict who admitted a string of offences failed to turn up for interviews for a drugs treatment and testing order because he feared he would be targeted by dealers he owed money to.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court this week, 28-year-old David McLean was jailed for a total of 10 months and 11 days.

McLean’s most recent offence was being found at a house in Stevenston Street, Kilmarnock, in suspicious circumstances on June 9.

The court heard that police were called to the address after a neighbour spotted a man acting suspiciously in the back garden.

McLean, of Hareshaw Drive, Kilmarnock, had previously pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including the theft of a washing machine and fridge from a house in Hill Street, Kilmarnock, and stealing a number of bottles of wine from a Kilmaurs shop.

Sheriff Brian Murphy said that McLean – who was being considered for a drugs order which would have kept him out of jail – had “been given every opportunity.

Allan Kerr, defending, said: “He has considerable debts he owes to these people. He has already been assaulted.

“They have become aware he is due to attend for assessment and he has had to avoid it for that reason.”

The solicitor said that McLean was now free of all drugs, including methadone.

He, however, felt that he needed support to stay off heroin.

Mr Kerr said that McLean also had the chance of going into the Loudoun House rehabilitation facility.

Mr Kerr pointed out that most of the charges McLean faced were “quite old”.

“He has been doing his best to stay on the straight and narrow,” he said.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Murphy told McLean: “You were offered the opportunity to be considered for a DTTO, but didn’t co-operate.”