Bin man admits dealing drugs at waste depot

Lee Lynch was caught with more than three ounces of cannabis hidden in his locker.

Livingston Sheriff Court was told that he was found with 87 grammes of the class B drug valued at £740.

Lynch, 35, of Houston Gardens, Uphall, West Lothian, pleaded guilty on the day of his trial today to being concerned in supplying a controlled drug,

His not guilty plea to possess cannabis with intent to supply at West Lothian Council’s Waste Services depot at Deans Industrial Estate, Livingston, was accepted by the Crown.

Police raided the depot in Livingston West Lothian on 28 July last year after receiving a tip-off that local authority employees were misusing drugs at work.

A total of three workers were charged with drug offences but it is understood two of them, aged 49 and 43, had fiscal fines imposed after they admitted possessing small amounts of cannabis.

Lynch, who was working as a bin lorry loader at the time of the offence, was the only one reported for court proceedings.

He originally denied the charges when he appeared on a bail undertaking and had been due to stand trial on Tuesday.

Fiscal depute Alistair Macleod revealed only the weight and value of the cannabis found. He said a full narration of the facts would be given when Lynch appears for sentence on February 19.

Sheriff Douglas Kinloch called for background reports from the criminal justice social work including an assessment of Lynch’s suitability for supervision, unpaid work and electronic tagging.