A man has escaped punishment after guzzling a tub of pills he pulled from his underpants as police tried to search him.
Keith Milne was approached by police patrolling the market area in Aberdeen who suspected he may be under the influence of something.
But, on being detained for a search, the 42-year-old whipped out a white tub from his underpants and swallowed a number of pills from inside.
Fiscal depute Eabha Sweeney told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened around 1pm on December 21 2019 when police were on foot patrol in the city centre.
‘He has freed himself of drug misuse’
While officers were walking through the Aberdeen Market area they spotted Milne at the top of a stairwell near the Union Street entrance.
On speaking to him, officers formed the view he was under the influence of something and cautioned and detained him for a search.
Ms Sweeney said: “The accused produced a small white container from his underwear and immediately opened it and swallowed a large quantity of white pills.”
The majority of the pills were successfully recovered from Milne’s mouth before he was about to swallow them.
Milne, of Farquhar Road, Aberdeen, pled guilty to intentionally obstructing police by swallowing a quantity of tablets.
Defence agent Kevin Longino said his client, who appeared in court on crutches, had broken his leg in multiple places in an accident.
Regarding the offence, he said: “This incident quite some time ago happened when he was in a relationship with his former co-accused.
‘Substantial achievement for somebody with his background’
“That was an abusive relationship and he was the victim of that abuse and that individual is now deceased.”
Mr Longino went on: “He has a number of previous convictions linked to what has been a longstanding opiate problem.
“The good thing is that, since 2020, there has not been any further offending.
“He has freed himself of drug misuse.
“For somebody who was a regular appearing before these courts, there has been no new offending since 2020 which is a substantial achievement for somebody with his background and he needs to be congratulated for that.”
Sheriff Margaret Hodge admonished Milne, meaning the offence is added to his record but he does not face any further punishment.
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