Sheriff shows leniency to “foolish” Wishaw man who got involved in drugs trade

A sheriff has shown leniency to a “foolish” Wishaw man who hooked up with drug dealers at the age of 60.

Garry Park claimed he agreed to transport cannabis because he was short of cash in the run-up to Christmas.

He admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class B drug on December 15 last year.

Garry Park, 61, of Rannoch Drive, Pather, appeared for sentence at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.

Police stopped his van in Airbles Road, Motherwell.

They detected a smell of cannabis and detained Park for a search.

Two vacuum bags containing cannabis worth a total of £6,500 were found in the passenger seat footwell.

The officers also seized two mobile phones and £8,450 in cash.

Defence lawyer Harvie Diamond said Park has no similar convictions and endures “all sorts of medical conditions”.

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Mr Diamond told the court: “He was short of money and Christmas was getting near.

“He very foolishly offered to transport drugs and money for some people.

“He has put himself and his family in jeopardy by doing this. He had never done it before and will certainly never do it again”

Sheriff John Hamilton told Park it “wasn’t appropriate” to jail someone of his age with poor health and no record of similar offending.

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The sheriff added: “it was a foolish decision on your part to embark on a career as a drug dealer at the age of 60.”

Park was given an eight-month electronic tagging order, banning him from leaving his home between 8pm and 6am each day.

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