Published: Wednesday, 29th October, 2008 12:30
Drug dealer jailed for six years
By Court Reporter
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A DEALER who sold heroin to help fund his own £1000-a-day habit has been jailed for six and a half years.
Thomas McIntyre was snared after police swooped at a house he was using in Cairnton Place, Tillicoultry, last May.
Detectives moved in after quizzing users who confessed to often buying drugs from McIntyre.
At the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday, the 40-year-old ex-forklift driver admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin between 1 January and 10 May 2007.
It emerged he had already served a five-year jail term for drug dealing after being convicted in 2003.
Judge Lord Bracadale reduced this latest sentence from seven years due to his guilty plea.
The court heard police questioned several addicts after being alerted to McIntyre’s drugs trade.
One man admitted he had acted as a “runner” for the accused to help deliver heroin. Officers then raided McIntyre’s home on 10 May last year.
A woman there admitted that McIntyre sold drugs. Police also seized £865 in cash and two mobile phones.
A number of text messages on the phones were from users looking to buy drugs.
McIntyre was later detained and admitted dealing heroin on a daily basis in and around the Stirling area.
Liam O’Donnell, defending, said McIntyre had been lured back into drugs on his release from jail and had been spending up to £1000-a-day on cocaine and heroin for himself.
The lawyer added, “He was approached by an individual claiming that money was owed. He accepts that he had a choice, but chose to re-enter the world of drug dealing.
“He is a man who has not made money through drugs, but made money for others. He accepts that heroin brings misery, he knows that better than most.”
Mr O’Donnell also said McIntyre’s mum had disowned him and that he had latterly been living with friends.
McIntyre also admitted failing to appear for a previous court date.
Lord Bracadale sentenced him to 12 months on that charge to run concurrently with the six and a half years.
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