Offshore worker found with cocaine in Tain garden
AN OFFSHORE worker was found in bushes of a private garden in Tain in possession of cocaine, Tain Sheriff Court heard on Monday.
Police were called to Castle Brae in Tain after reports were received of people acting suspiciously behind the town’s Royal Hotel.
Depute fiscal Roderick Urquhart said Gordon Bell was found in bushes of a private garden.
He was detained and when officers carried out a search found him to be in possession of 2.4 grammes of cocaine.
Bell (37) of Ponteland Road, Cowgate, Newcastle, admitted possession of the Class A drug.
But his solicitor Alison Foggo, said Bell, who had family links in Tain, had been out drinking, was very drunk, and was at a loss as to how the drugs came to be in his possession.
She said in his work offshore he was subjected to random drug testing and such an offence could place his job in jeopardy.
"He will take more care in future," she said.
Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist fined Bell £225.
