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West Lothian mum-of-two admits dealing highly addictive 'street benzos'

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
AuthorVic Rodrick
Published date14 June 2022
Publication titleEdinburghLive (Scotland)
Terri McNee, who has two children, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of the class 'C' drug Etizolam to another or others for almost a month in June 2020

The tablets or "pellets" are often referred to as 'street benzos' or 'street blues' because they resemble valium tablets which are instantly recognisable because of their distinctive blue colour.

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McNee, of Bathgate, appeared personally to admit the indictment charge against her at Livingston Sheriff Court on Monday.

Deputy procurator fiscal Alan Wickham moved for sentence and tendered a list of the customer service representative's previous convictions to the court.

He said the Crown now accepted 31-year-old McNee's position that she was guilty of committing the offence between 1 and 26 June 2020, not from 3 April 2020 as originally charged.

Sheriff Douglas Kinloch said to the accused: "I'm not going to pass sentence today because I think this is a case where a background report ought to be obtained before sentence is passed."

The sheriff, who has the power to send McNee to prison for up to five years, told her to return for sentencing on 14 July when full details of her involvement will be revealed.

The issue of 'street benzos' sparked a major public health alert in Scotland because heroin users are using them as a substitute for the addictive Class 'A' drug.

The so-called designer drug Etizolam was previously regarded as a legal high but was criminalised in 2017 under an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Users experience mood enhancement, relaxation, reduced anxiety, lowered inhibitions and sedative effects, but some people also suffer mental confusion and short-term memory loss.

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