Ex-soldier got hooked on heroin and turned to drug dealing
Police raided the Stirlingshire home of 49-year-old Scott Turnbull in 2015.
A former soldier who was caught dealing heroin and cannabis has been jailed for ten months.
Scott Turnbull, 49, was found with heroin, herbal cannabis and the medical painkiller morphine by police who raided his home in Limerigg, Stirlingshire, acting on a tip off.
Stirling Sheriff Court heard messages and texts on his phone showed he was dealing cannabis and sometimes heroin, to which he was himself addicted. Scales and bags were also found.
Prosecutor Sarah Lumsden said Turnbull had "become upset" when he was raided before dawn on December 16, 2015, telling officers at the time: "I'm sorry."
Turnbull, of Lochside Road, Limerigg, near Slammanan, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and cannabis and illegally possessing morphine.
His solicitor, Billy Hendry, said Turnbull had been in the army and had afterwards become a lorry driver.
He said: "During his time in the army he was using cannabis and that led on to heroin addiction.
"He took steps to deal with that but following the death of his father and an injury at work which left him in a great deal of pain he continued with cannabis use and then went back on to heroin.
"He then got into trouble with people who were selling him heroin."
Mr Hendry added: "He is petrified at the prospect of prison."
After reading background reports, Sheriff Wyllie Robertson told Turnbull no sentence other than a custodial one was appropriate.
He said: "You have pled guilty to a serious offence and the courts have repeatedly made clear that those who deal drugs risk a severe penalty."
Turnbull, who had no previous drug convictions, looked shaken as he was handcuffed to a security guard and led below.