Drug dealer caught with £6,000 worth of cocaine in Paisley "given a chance"
A drug dealer caught after cops spotted him using 'counter surveillance techniques' while driving has been 'given a chance' by a sheriff.
Charles Caldwell was snared by police driving out of a Paisley street in his black BMW on January 18 last year.
Officers, in their unmarked car, followed the 32-year-old as he drove from the town to Hillington – changing lanes, slowing his speed and speeding off.
When stopped, Caldwell's passenger got out of the car with a strong stench of cannabis subsequently detected.
Procurator fiscal depute Jason Stark previously told Paisley Sheriff Court cops found cocaine within Caldwell's car and stashed in his underwear.
He explained: 'Officers on plain-clothes patrol in an unmarked vehicle observed a black BMW exiting Dee Crescent in Paisley.
'Officers followed the vehicle to outside The Wheel Specialist in Hillington. Throughout the journey, police observed the vehicle to change lanes on a number of occasions, slow speed and then accelerate sporadically which police believed was counter surveillance techniques.
'Police approached the vehicle and observed the accused as the driver and another male as the front seat passenger. The passenger exited the vehicle and police detected a strong smell of cannabis emanating from within.
'Both males were informed they were being detained and cautioned at common law and a search of the accused was carried out.'
The court heard officers discovered a knotted white bag containing a 'white rock substance' from Caldwell's jacket pocket, two mobile phones from his trousers pocket and a white knotted bag containing white powder within his underwear.
A search of the car was carried out with two white bags containing numerous white knotted bags which had white powder discovered.
The court heard a forensic drug expert estimated that, should the Class A drug that was recovered in Caldwell's car be sub-divided into the 'lowest recovered recognised street deal of 1g', it has the potential to generate approximately £6,190.
Mr Stark added: 'The officers confirmed that it is their opinion that the cocaine in this case is excessive for personal use with the majority of which being sub-divided into recognised street deals and would be for sale or supply.'
Caldwell admitted to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, a Class A drug. His defence agent told the town's court he became involved in supply to 'repay drug debt'.
She added: 'He accepts this type of offending impacts the community and wants nothing more to do with drugs. He accrued drug debt due to his own drug use and made the wrong decision to sell drugs.
'He was given the phones from those who he was in debt to, and they told him how to wrap the drugs and how to sell them.'
But Sheriff Brian Mohan blasted: 'You want me to believe this when you've got previous for drugs?
'I'm not entirely sure if you have the difficulties you say you do or if you just say the first thing that comes into your head.
'You offer £5 per week which is nowhere near enough to recognise the significance of this. I'm going to give you a chance. If you're not playing ball, you'll go to jail.'
As a 'direct alternative' to custody, Caldwell, of Castlegreen Street, Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work in the community.
In addition he was made subject to supervision of the social work department for 12 months. A review hearing of the order was assigned for October 13.
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