A Moray man who tried to pay a cab fare with class A drugs when he was caught short of cash was fined £400 yesterday.
Gregory Millar, 31, had asked a taxi driver to take him from Elgin’s High Street to his home at 5 Coleburn Court in the town in the early hours of Sunday, March 1.
Police were alerted after he blurted out that he “wouldn’t pay”.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that when asked by officers how he intended to recompense the driver, a drunken Millar revealed two bags of white powder.
Fiscal depute Kevin Corrins said the bags were found to contain 2 grams of cocaine, with an estimated street value of between £100 and £200.
Sheriff Susan Raeburn described the substance as a “strange method of payment”.
Defence solicitor Robert Cruickshank said: “As far as the circumstances are concerned, Mr Millar was in something of a family crisis.
“He went out that night without the intention to get very drunk. But, he did get very drunk.
“There are no suggestions he was under the influence of anything other than drink but he got talking to someone in a public house and he succumbed to temptation.”
Mr Cruickshank said Millar accepted he had the cocaine in his possession and showed it.
Following his guilty plea, Sheriff Raeburn fined Millar £400.
