Crime in Moray: Heroin dealer jailed
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A heroin dealer caught by police after overdosing in an attempted suicide has been jailed for a year.
James Howden of Marine Drive, Edinburgh took a cocktail of narcotics on February 8, 2020 at a house in Mid Street, Keith.
An ambulance was called by another occupant and police also attended.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told today that drugs and distribution paraphernalia could be readily seen inside the property.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said: "Howden was given Narcan to counteract the effect of the drugs he had taken and he was conveyed to Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin."
Mr Weir added that the 26-year-old was arrested when he had recovered sufficiently in the early hours of the following morning.
A search warrant was then granted.
Digital scales, £160 in cash and two mobile phones were all recovered from the property.
In addition, a wash bag containing a further £285 in cash was found inside the living room couch, as were two packages containing lumps wrapped in cling film.
These were later identified as heroin with an estimated street value of £6470.
Upon being examined the mobile phones were found to contain extensive messages about the sourcing and selling of drugs.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson was told that Howden, who admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin, was selling drugs to fund his own habit.
