Killer is caught dealing heroin

Brian Hossack • Published 4 Aug 2010 14:00

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DOCK: Shields appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court.

A KILLER is facing jail after being caught dealing heroin.

Stephen Shields, 29, was found with hundreds of pounds of the class A drug in Pladda Avenue, Port Glasgow, after a police swoop - just yards from the home of his victim's mother.

Shields was jailed for six years in April 2004 after stabbing William Lyall, 32, in a brutal attack in nearby Rona Avenue on 17 August, 2003.

He was originally charged with the man's murder but was sentenced after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of culpable homocide at the High Court in Glasgow.

Shields was back at Greenock Sheriff Court yesterday after being found with just under 11 grammes of heroin in Pladda Avenue, close to Lexi Lyall's home in Sandray Avenue.

Lexi has had a prominent role in the 'Stop Knives, Save Lives' anti-blade crime campaign.

Shields pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply and with being concerned in the supply of the drug on 15 February during an appearance in court on Tuesday.

Both charges relate to the incident near to Shields' home in Pladda Avenue.

Depute fiscal Tom Smyth told how the 29-year-old had been found with 10.8 grammes of heroin, worth around £300, in his possession.

The Crown accepted not guilty pleas, through defence solicitor David Tod, to a series of other drugs offences libelled against the accused.

These included possession of heroin and possession of the drug with intent to supply to others on 15 July.

Shields' not guilty pleas to being concerned in the supply of the class A substance, possession of cannabis resin and possession of cannabis resin with intent to supply on the same date were also accepted by the Crown.

Sheriff Rajni Swanney deferred sentence for background reports until next month. Shields was released on bail and is due to appear in court again then.

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 04 Aug 10

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