Hebrides  News

Contact newsdesk on:  info@hebridesnews.co.uk

Classified adverts   I   Jobs                               

 Local Services     

Jail for drugs binge offences                    1/8/14

 

A Western Isles man has been jailed for 12 months after a spree of offences while on a drugs binge.

 

David Macleay of 23 Ballantrushal, Lewis, was also banned from driving for five years after driving cars while under the influence of drugs.

 

The 26-year-old was “high as a kite” at an appearance at Stornoway Sheriff Court two weeks ago, said lawyer, Angus Macdonald.

 

As a result, the solicitor was unable to take instructions at that time so Macleay was remanded in custody on the mainland to return for sentencing on Friday.  

 

Procurator fiscal David Teal said Macleay’s Fiat Punto with three people inside careered off the road and hit a fence at Carloway on 4 July.

 

Police arrived and observed him “staggering about the road quite clearly under the influence of drugs,” added the fiscal.

 

Thirteen valium tablets were found in his possession, he said.

 

Two days later, he was caught again by police who spotted him erratically steering a Volkswagon Bettle along Matheson Road in Stornoway with the vehicle “hitting the kerb many times” as well as mounting the pavement.

 

He passed an alcohol breath test but was “clearly under the influence” and had no insurance, said Mr Teale.

 

Two weeks ago, stole a mobile phone from a van parked at Engebret’s filling station in Stornoway.

 

The driver went to pay for fuel and left the phone on the dashboard. Macleay went to speak to the passenger but leant through the open window to swipe the device. He had thrown away its memory card by the time police caught him, by Fusion takeaway on the other side of town, two hours later, explained the procurator fiscal.

 

Some 20 benzodiaze tablets fell out of his pocket as he was being put into the police car, the court was told.

 

On another occasion, Macleay was staying overnight at a house in Garynahine. He went to bed but later woke up “clearly in a bad mood about something,” was aggressive and smashed bottles of Budweiser beer about, said the fiscal.

 

Lawyer Angus Macdonald pleaded with sheriff David Sutherland to spare him a jail sentence.

 

He said his client needed help with drugs abuse as “if he carries on as he is he is going to kill himself.”

 

The solicitor added: “He cannot provide an explanation for the binge he got into.”

 

“He joined in with others - who are frequent visitors to this court - in this drugs binge,” said the lawyer.

 

Sheriff Sutherland said there was no option but prison given his previous convictions and the need to safeguard the public.

 

Macleay who pleaded guilty to a total of eight charges - two of drugs driving, two of illegally possessing drugs, two of careless driving, theft and driving without insurance - was also fined £1,800. However, he was given no time to pay and the alternative of a jail sentence was imposed.