A drug dealer appeared in court yesterday – because he is being bullied.
Alexander McKean was ordered to carry out unpaid work after he was caught supplying heroin around the north-east in 2015.
But yesterday, Aberdeenshire Council’s social work team brought the 33-year-old back to court – to ask the sheriff to revoke the order as he is being threatened by another offender.
The request was ultimately denied, but a furious Sheriff Kevin Drummond demanded the social worker present his reply directly to the service’s bosses.
He told the department – who had not even named the other man said to be making the threats against McKean – the request was “unbelievable”.
As the courtroom erupted in muffled laughter, Sheriff Drummond added: “Who do they think they are?
“We will not have an offender of any kind deciding what the decision of the court will be – some offender that they’re scared to name will not be tolerated.
“It’s unbelievable. Intolerable.”
He asked McKean if he had told social workers who the so-called workplace bully is.
McKean, of Sandford Court, Peterhead, replied: “I have told them. They know who it is.”
At one point, Sheriff Drummond buried his face in his hands after reading over the request again, and asked for a few minutes to compose himself before calling the next case.
The council last night said it will submit an updated report.
Mark Simpson, acting partnership manager for the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership which assigns work for people recommended for unpaid work through the courts, said the team would ensure McKean can complete his sentence.
He added: “We will be submitting a further criminal justice social work report to the court that outlines the arrangements we will put in place to ensure the community payback order is completed.”
A spokesman for the council refused to reveal what type of work McKean had been tasked with.
