AN ARDROSSAN heroin dealer has been jailed after a sheriff snubbed a last-ditch plea from his lawyer to 'take a chance' on him.

William Gibb was locked up after appearing for sentencing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Tuesday, October 1.

The 55-year-old, formerly of Castle Road, appeared in the dock having previously tendered a guilty plea at a trial diet to a charge of being concerned in the supply of class A drug diamorphine on December 21, 2022.

Sentence had been deferred to allow background reports to be prepared.

Gibb's solicitor told the court that his client was "under no illusion that custody was uppermost in your lordship's mind".

The lawyer added that Gibb, who has previous convictions for drug offences, had a longstanding addiction issue, and had been both using and selling the substance at the time - something he 'takes full responsibility for'.

The solicitor, however, asked Sheriff Murdoch Mactaggart to take a step back from imposing a custodial sentence.

The solicitor said: "He doesn’t have the worst record and there are significant gaps in it. He is someone who can stay away from court.

"He has not previously received any support for addiction in his sentences. My view is that if he is not educated on it, how does he move forward in life?

"He is asking for a chance he has never had before. Take that chance, take a step back from prison - and he knows what will happen if he messes any order up."

However, Sheriff Mactaggart remarked that no sentence other than a period in custody would be appropriate.

He said: “We are repeatedly told Scotland has the worst drug death rate in Europe, and North and East Ayrshire are above the national average.

“People like you are the reason for that. You have been convicted of it before; that has not persuaded you from continuing.

"I see no other appropriate disposal other than imprisonment.”

Gibb was sentenced to spend a total of 10 months in prison, with that period beginning from the date of his court hearing on October 1.