Pubdate: Wed, 19 Apr 2006
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Copyright: 2006 The Scotsman Publications Ltd
Contact: http://members.scotsman.com/contact.cfm
Website: http://www.scotsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/406
Author: Laura Roberts

CURFEW AND TAG FOR SCHOOLGIRL DRUG DEALER

A schoolgirl who was caught on camera selling drugs in a high school
playground has been electronically tagged.

Jennifer Ross, 16, was found with bags of cannabis in her pockets at
Chryston High School, Muirhead, Glasgow.

The student pleaded guilty at Airdrie Sheriff Court last month to
being concerned in the supply of drugs at the school between 4
February and 4 March last year.

Yesterday, she was electronically tagged and put under a daily curfew
from 6pm until 7am for the next ten months.

Lyn Gordon, prosecuting, said: "The deputy head of the school received
information someone was acting suspiciously in the school grounds. The
deputy head monitored the CCTV and saw her with three bags."

The police were contacted and examined the CCTV footage before the
girl was taken out of class to the office of the headteacher, Linda
Johnston. There she was questioned and searched in front of her mother
and police officers. Three bags of brown resinous material were found
in her jacket, and police also found what appeared to be a tick list
in her jacket pocket.

The prosecutor went on: "She was questioned as to what was in the
bags, and she replied 'dope'. She said it was for her friend Susan but
didn't know her second name.

"She told police she was only keeping it and wouldn't be stupid enough
to sell the stuff."

Some pupils at the school admitted to police that they had bought
cannabis from Ross and owed up to UKP10. The court heard that the three
bags had a total weight of 29 grammes.

The court was also told that Ross, who has no previous convictions,
had moved back to the family home, after staying with a boyfriend in
Gartcosh.

Sentencing Ross, Sheriff Morag Galbraith emphasised that this was her
last chance.

She said: "If you breach this tagging order, be under no illusions - I
will not hesitate in sending you to prison."
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