First Tayside 'bubbles' dealer convicted

Tayside Police have welcomed the first conviction in the region for dealing the newly banned drug mephedrone.

Ryan Nicoll, from Forfar, admitted being concerned in the supply of the class B substance, also known as bubbles, which was banned in April.

It was made illegal following a series of fatalities linked to the drug.

Nicoll, 21, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service and forced to hand over cash and his mobile phone.

Forfar Sheriff Court was told that Nicoll had already had his car crushed.

He was arrested in May, just two weeks after the drug was banned.

After sentencing, Det Insp Stuart Holmes, from Tayside Police, said the force would "relentlessly" target mephedrone dealers to protect communities.

"We will seize every opportunity to enforce drugs trafficking legislation and help to rid the streets of this class B drug wherever it is peddled in the region by individuals, groups or networks," he said.

The police officer added: "Children and young people who think that bubbles is safe, should take heed that as with any chemical - but particularly chemicals sourced from an unlawful supply route - that they are inherently dangerous.

"There is no safe way of knowing the true content or what is contained within the substance being distributed."

Sheriff Kevin Veal told Nicoll it was a "borderline case" for a custodial sentence.

He warned him that if he failed to comply with the court he would be sent to jail.