Surveillance led police to search an Inverness man who was found dealing cocaine

A surveillance operation led police to search an Inverness man who was found dealing cocaine.

Stephen Murray (63) was found to have several wraps of cocaine in his pockets when walking through a car park at Tesco on Inverness’s Eastfield Way.

Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh told Sheriff Gary Aitken at Inverness Sheriff Court that the search took place on March 25 last year.

She said: “The accused was walking through Tesco at Eastfield Way and was detained due to police surveillance.

“The accused was compliant and wraps were seized from his pockets.

“An urgent drug search warrant of his address was carried out.

“Police found a mobile phone, sim card, two sets of scales, cash and drugs.

“The drugs were sent away and there were 627 wraps of 0.2g of cocaine at a value of £1245 and 286 wraps of diamorphine at a value of £1580.

“The total cash value was £8860.”

Murray, of Kintail Terrace, Inverness, pleaded guilty to supplying a class A drug.

Sentencing has been deferred until May 6 for a background report to be prepared.