Drug addict fisherman caught with heroin

A FIFE drug addict travelled to Shetland to work on a fishing boat to earn money to support his young family, but ended up in custody over the weekend after being caught with heroin on the Hjaltland ferry.

Marc Williams, 34, of St Clair Street, Kirkcaldy, was searched by police who found 0.4g of heroin in his cabin on Friday after they were alerted by suspicious crew members.

Appearing at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Williams – who was bailed by a court on the mainland on a drugs-related charge in January this year – admitted possessing the class A drug.

He claimed to have bought the drugs for £10 while drunk in Aberdeen, though procurator fiscal Duncan MaKenzie estimated its value to be around £40.

The court heard his period in custody meant Williams – who has a methadone prescription – had been unable to take up his employment with the fishing boat Sea Queen IV.

Defence agent Neil MacRobert said he would have to explain the situation to his pregnant wife, with whom he already has two children.

Taking into account the “relatively insignificant” amount of heroin involved, Sheriff James Hendry fined Williams £200.