A MAN has narrowly avoided a prison sentence after admitting supplying thousands of pounds worth of class A drugs.

Barry Fallon appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court last Thursday, August 15, after previously pleading guilty to three drug-related charges against him.

Susannah Hutchison, depute fiscal, told the court that on September 27 of last year police received information about drugs being stored at a property on Lochies Road, Clackmannan.

Officers then executed a search warrant and were given entry to the property by Fallon’s partner.

Within one room they found a rucksack with two bags inside it containing drugs. According to Ms Hutchison, one bag had 4,976 tablets and the other had 641, all of which were Etizolam, with a total street value of £5,190.

Officers also found another “knotted bag” with 13.99 grams of cocaine worth £400.

There was also a safe in the home with a mobile phone, £70 in cash plus a bag of heroin worth between £380 and £600. Scales and other drug equipment was also recovered.

The prosecutor added that a search of the seized mobile phone found that Fallon was concerned in the supply of drugs.

Mr Morrison, defending the 40-year-old, told the court that his only issue with the narrative was the values given, as they had already agreed that any valuations were on the “lower end of the scale”.

He added that the pills found were likely to be sold in five batches of 1,000, rather than smaller deals.

The defence agent went on to say that Fallon did not have any conviction since he was 21-years-old, aside from driving offences and was deemed by the criminal justice social work department to be of “low-risk”.

It was also heard that the accused has previously struggled with gambling in the past and banned himself from doing so online, but became desperate for the “highs” of quick money and looked at this as a way of “making a quick buck”.

Mr Morrison said: “He regrets this for the effect it has had on his family and knows it was a stupid decision.

“He did not think about the effect his actions would have on the wider community. His remorse is genuine.”

The effect on his family will also act as a “deterrent” for Fallon to not appear in court again with these types of matters, Mr Morrison added.

Sheriff David Mackie told Fallon, of Lochies Road, that his crimes merits a custodial sentence but on this occasion he would escape that.

The Sheriff cited his limited record and the fact that there is a “presumption against prison under 12 months” in Scotland.

He imposed a sentence with 300 hours of unpaid work and a restriction of liberty order between 8pm and 5am for three months.