A man who ran a “friendly local cannabis corner shop” – only to be caught when he sold the drug to a 14-year-old schoolboy – was today behind bars.
Kieran Howe was caught after police were tipped off to the sale he made to the youth – and raided his flat in Arbroath a few days later.
They discovered he had been selling the drug to “anyone who came to the door”.
Facebook messages were also found that showed he had been selling the drug via the social media site.
Fiscal depute Saima Rasheed told Dundee Sheriff Court that the boy had been found with £30 worth of cannabis and said he had bought it from Howe.
She said: “Due to further intelligence officers were granted a search warrant for his home address.”
Miss Rasheed added that police found cannabis, drug paraphernalia and cash as well as tick lists relating to his customers.
She added: “He admitted selling cannabis but said he was unaware it was to a school child.
“They also recovered an air weapon that was designed to disgharce pellets.
“Ammunition was also recovered that was suitable for use with it.
“Facebook messages were also found that showed he was involved in the sale and supply of cannabis.”
Howe, 23, of Ernest Street, Arbroath, pleaded guilty on indictment to being concerned in the supply of cannabis between January 19 and January 30 this year at his home address.
He further admitted possessing an air weapon without a certificate on January 30 this year.
Defence solicitor Grant Bruce said: “He started doing this to fund his own habit.
“He strikes me as someone who is naive and immature.”
Sheriff Alastair Brown asked the lawyer if there was “any conceivable basis in which I can avoid a custodial sentence for a man who sells cannabis to a child?”
Mr Bruce added: “He wasn’t hocking the stuff around the school gates – it was from his own property that the person had to come.”
Sheriff Brown deferred sentence until next month and remanded Howe in custody meantime.
He added: “It sounds as if he was the friendly local cannabis corner shop.”
