Courts in Moray: Broken headlight led to cocaine arrest

A teenager was caught with £260 of cocaine after police officers pulled over a car because it had a broken headlight.

The vehicle was stopped on Land Street, Rothes, shortly before midnight on Friday, December 30, last year.

Elgin Sheriff Court heard that James Smith was one of three people inside.

Noticing how nervous they appeared, the officers decided to carry out a search.

This revealed the 19-year-old was carrying 5g of the class-A drug in one of his pockets.

Smith, who lives in Ballindalloch, pleaded guilty to one charge of possession.

Defence solicitor Robert Cruickshank told the court that his client was a first-time offender who was in full-time employment.

Mr Cruickshank said: "He realises that he made a mistake. He doesn't have anything to so with drugs any more."

Smith was ordered to pay a £320 fine.