Paisley drug dealer warned he's facing jail for "pedalling misery"

Paisley Sheriff Court
-Credit: (Image: Andrew Neil)


A Paisley drug dealer has been warned he could be facing a jail sentence after admitting to being involved in “pedalling misery”.

Drugs worth over £13.5k, including over 30,000 tablets, were found in Shaun McBride’s home after cops raided it in June last year.

McBride, of Whitesbridge Close, had been arrested and held in custody overnight for drug supply and released on bail.

But just four months later in October 2023, the 33-year-old was then caught by cops in possession of cocaine, a class A drug, after they raided his home for a second time.

Prosecutor Jason Stark told Paisley Sheriff Court cops first raided McBride’s home on Friday, June 23, last year.

He said: “While searching the shed area within the garden, officers recovered, a Thomas the Tank Engine bag which contained 71.56grams of cocaine along with 30.95grams of diamorphine.

“A plastic bag containing 75.83g of cocaine was recovered, a plastic bag containing 27.48g of diamorphine was also recovered and a bag containing 11.08g of cocaine. Working scales set to grams were also recovered.”

Court heard how cops also found 33 bags of blue tablets within a white bag and 30,879 tablets were found in a black bin bag in the shed.

Mr Stark added: “Five tablets were selected at random and each found to contain Bromazolam.

“A tick list, £160 in £10 notes, and a quantity of cash in envelopes was also recovered.”

Court heard a total of 33,225 tablets were recovered from McBride’s home. The estimated retail value of the cocaine totalled £5,460, the value of the diamorphine totalled £635 and the value of the Bromazolam totalled £7,775.

Court then heard how McBride’s home was raided again on October 19, last year.

Mr Stark added: “15.25g of hard white substance within a cigarette packet was found and later analysed to be cocaine and phenacetin, otherwise known as crack cocaine.

“A polythene bag was found containing 15.85g of cocaine and two Nokia phones. The retail value of the crack cocaine was £1,500.”

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Defence agent James Arrol told the court McBride was “under no illusion that custody is the likely outcome”.

He added: “The background here is his mental health declined during covid, and cocaine became quite the problem for him.

“He became involved in this operation to fund his own habit. He is now drug free and I would invite the court to call for reports and continue his status meantime.”

Sheriff Gillian Craig stated: “This was quite the sophisticated operation you had here.

“As far as I am aware peddling drugs is pedalling misery, which I am sure you’re aware of having suffered your own addictions.”

Sentence was deferred for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment until November 15. McBride had his bail continued.

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