AN ALEXANDRIA couple who were found in possession of heroin at their home in the town have both received community-based punishments.

Alexander Finnie and Angela Lamont were both found with quantities of diamorphine at the property in Middleton Street on June 11 last year.

Finnie's solicitor, Douglas Thomson, told Dumbarton Sheriff Court his client had stayed out of trouble since sentence was originally deferred for his good behaviour.

Lamont's agent, Tom Brown, said his client had failed to attend for a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) assessment, but said he wasn't sure whether a DTTO for his client was really necessary.

Sheriff William Gallacher replied: “You and me both. But she can't do work, and she can't pay a fine. Where does that leave us?”

Mr Thomson told the court that Finnie, 46, was able and willing to carry out unpaid work in the community as a punishment.

Sheriff Gallacher told Finnie to carry out 75 hours of work, and placed 33-year-old Lamont on a two-month restriction of liberty order which will confine her to her home address between 7pm and 7am each day until April 2.

But he warned them both: “If you don't comply, you will be in breach. You will come back before me, and you will end up in prison.”