'Shamed' Ayr barber caught with cocaine in his shop avoids a jail sentence

A town centre barber caught with over £4,000 worth of cocaine has escaped a jail sentence.

Scott Johnston, owner of Alter Ego Cutting Lounge in Ayr, was handed a community payback order when he appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court today for sentencing.

The 29-year-old, who pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine at an earlier hearing, was found with £4,180 worth of the class A drug between his home address in Outdale Avenue in Prestwick and his barber shop in Ayr’s Queens Court on February 12, 2021.

The court heard that police executed two search warrants, starting with his home address where Johnston was found with self-sealed plastic bags protruding from his right trouser pocket.

A total of £1,720 worth of cocaine was recovered from his home, before officers informed Johnston that they were in possession of a second warrant for his business premises, to which Johnston provided the keys for.

At Alter Ego Cutting Lounge, police recovered up to £2,440 worth of the class A drugs, along with 425g of a white powder substance commonly used as a mixing ingredient with cocaine; 52g of which were found within a Converse bag.

A quantity of self-sealed bags and one black glove were also found within the premises, alongside £6,000 recovered from the till desk.

Solicitor Mrs Maudline said Johnston felt “shame and remorse” at his actions, and that he became involved in the supply of cocaine to fund his own habit, brought about by the closure of his business during lockdown.

She said: “He’s a businessman and has had the shop since 2017.

“At the time of lockdown his business was forced to close. Regrettably that led to him drinking more and using drugs recreationally.

“He got addicted to cocaine and he really couldn’t make-do without it.

“He was having difficulty purchasing cocaine and I think he became an easy target.

“He made no financial gain at all. The only gain he made was his daily use of cocaine.

Mrs Maudline made a motion to refrain from imposing a period of imprisonment on Johnston, stating such would not only put a financial and mental burden on the barber, who earns around £30,000 per year, but it would affect those who work out of Johnston’s business.

She said: “He’s deeply worried about his business.

“He recognises that he is due a punishment but the detriment it [custody] would have on others and their families.”

Sheriff Shirley Foran said: “My instincts looking at this are that you should be imprisoned for this.

“I have to always take into account the particular circumstances and I’m prepared to step away from custody.

“But let me be crystal clear, the sentence I’m about to impose is an alternative to that.”

Johnston was placed on a community payback order comprising of 24 months supervision and 240 hours of unpaid work to be carried out within 12 months.

He was also placed on a restriction of liberty order, whereby he must remain in his home address from 7pm to 7am for a period of six months.

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