A drug dealer caught with thousands of pounds of cocaine after he was jumped by men with a machete was “terrified” of the gang he worked for.
Jack Watt’s £3,000 stash was discovered after police were called following the incident at the Morrisons supermarket on King Street in Aberdeen.
When they searched the car to check if the weapon had been left behind they instead discovered 26.93g of cocaine, worth up to £3,300.
Later, at the police station, Watt, 24, asked to use the bathroom and was seen dropping a bag containing around £100 of cocaine on the floor.
‘Messages on the accused’s phone talking about controlled drugs’
Now the court has heard Watt was pedalling drugs in a bid to pay off his drug debts after he was “compelled to cooperate” with those he owed money to.
Fiscal depute Carol Gammie previously told the court that police were called to the supermarket at 9.12pm on January 28 this year.
“Police were advised that while the accused was sitting within the car, two unknown males had entered the rear passenger doors with a machete,” she said.
“Police officers searched the car to ensure no weapons were within and found a small black bag within the nearside rear door pocket.”
Incriminating messages on phone
Watt was taken to Kittybrewster police station where he was asked about the machete incident but “did not disclose anything further”.
He did, however, show officers messages on his mobile phone to help explain what he was doing there with the drugs at the time.
The phone, along with £170 in cash, were seized but not before Watt asked to use the toilet, where he dropped a small self-seal bag on the floor containing 0.9g of cocaine.
Watt, of Menzies Road, Aberdeen, pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
‘He was clearly terrified’
His defence agent Andrew Ormiston said his client had found himself dealing drugs as he was “terrified” of those he owed money to.
“He had a drugs debt,” he said. “It wasn’t coercion but it’s clear he was terrified. He felt compelled to cooperate with them.
“It was on that basis that he found himself at the locus on that particular day with the substance he was in possession of.
“I’m not sure if this was an attempt by a rival group to procure the substances he had or if it was the group he was involved with. It’s only those individuals who know.”
‘He is still in debt’
The solicitor added that Watt had made “significant changes” in his life since and was now working seven days a week in hospitality and retail as well as training to be a hairdresser.
“He is still in significant debt but none of that is through drugs or drug groups,” he added.
“He has abstained from illicit substances for 12 months. He has no intention of ever using controlled substances again.”
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin handed Watt an eight-month curfew, supervision for two years and 200 hours of unpaid work.
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