A Vale man who supplied heroin to others has been placed on a drug treatment order and will be tested regularly for drug use during the next two years.  

Peter Longburn, 32, who lives at an address in Redburn, Bonhill, was made the subject of a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) when he appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court for sentencing.

Longburn was concerned in the supply of the class A diamorphine from his former home address in Braeside Drive between October 20 and December 12 last year.

He had appeared at court on October 6 when sentence had been deferred to carry out an assessment of his suitability for the drug treatment order. When he appeared back in the court it was revealed in a report that Longburn was still taking heroin as well as the prescribed substitute methadone. 

Longburn’s solicitor, Brian McGuire said: “The report suggests that he is a suitable candidate for a drug treatment and testing order.”


Sheriff Maxwell Hendry responded: “My concern is that he is on a very substantial methadone prescription and he seems to be taking heroin on top of that.”

Addressing Longburn, the sheriff said: “I think we both know that this offence, given your record, justifies a prison sentence. However my job is to keep people out of prison if there is an alternative. I’m just but only just convinced not to send you to prison.

"In the relatively short term I want to see you making progress, not topping up your methadone with heroin, and reducing your intake.” Longburn was placed on a DTTO, with a review next month.