An Aberdeen pub boss has spoken for the first time after his son was convicted of dealing drugs after being caught outside one of his city venues.
Stuart Clarkson said it was a “very difficult time” for the family after his son Paul was found with cocaine when police were called to the Draft Project on Langstane Place on the night Scotland qualified for the Euros.
Police were sent to the outside venue – which was set up to capitalise on Covid restrictions – in response to a tip-off the 42-year-old operations director was in possession of the class A drug.
He appeared in the dock at the city’s sheriff court on Monday and admitted the offence, saying he was doing it to fund his own habit.
Press coverage of the case quickly appeared online and was shared and commented on widely.
This sparked a reaction from his brother, Jordan, who took to informing some of those who engaged in the conversation online that they were banned from all the family’s venues.
However today, Stuart said his son’s comments were a “knee-jerk reaction” and insisted nobody was going to be banned from their pubs or restaurants.
The Clarkson patriarch also opened up on the impact his son’s conviction had on the family.
‘Nobody banned’ for sharing conviction details
“It’s a very, very difficult time for us as a family as to the situation that has occurred,” the pub boss said.
“What has happened is one of my sons has come out with that comment because he doesn’t like the family being slated on social media.
“As far as PB Development Company is concerned, nobody is banned for sharing any social media.
“It is just a knee-jerk reaction by one of the family.”
And when asked whether it would be appropriate for his son to continue in his operations director role in light of his conviction, Stuart said he had no comment to make and said he was focused on supporting his family.
Pub boss ‘supporting family’
Paul was caught with £1,600 worth of cocaine outside the Draft Project after police were tipped off on November 12 last year.
Cops searched him as he left the venue and found drugs as well as self-seal bags and incriminating messages on WhatsApp dating back more than a year.
In court on Monday, he claimed he had not dealt drugs for financial gain but to fund his own habit.
He will be sentenced next month.