Hamilton dealer mum faces eviction

Oct 9 2008

A MUM convicted of dealing cannabis from her council home was this week facing eviction.

Jean Menzies sold hash from the terraced house at Comley Bank, Hamilton, after an ASBO was slapped on her.

South Lanarkshire Council have a hardline policy of booting out tenants convicted of selling drug.

Last week at Hamilton Sheriff Court, the authority’s lawyers sought an eviction order against 36-year-old Menzies and Sheriff Rae Small adjourned the case to a later date.

Following the hearing, a council spokesman said: “The case has not yet been concluded as we are awaiting final submissions from the defendant’s solicitors. They are expected to be with the court in a couple of weeks.”

A two-year-old antisocial behaviour order, commencing December 1, 2004, was imposed on Menzies at Hamilton Sheriff Court after fed-up neighbours had complained about noisy parties.

Traffic caused by numerous visitors to the property led police to suspect that drugs were being sold from the house.

Glasgow-based Drug Squad officers armed with a search warrant raided the house on May 18, 2006. They smashed down the front door and recovered 93.1 grammes of cannabis resin with a street value of £260.

Two pieces of the drug were lying on the top of the home’s Yellow Pages and hash was also found in the kitchen and inside the pocket of a jacket.

Officers also discovered £460 in notes and £10 in coins hidden beneath the cushion of a sofa, and £165 in the kitchen.

Menzies, who has a teenage son, at first denied that the money belonged to her.

However, at the sheriff court on November 17, she admitted being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Sheriff David Bicket deferred sentence for six months.

When the case was called on May 11, 2007, she was admonished.

Menzies also has a conviction for possession of drugs.