6 days ago
Johnstone man made £442k during time as drug dealer
Dale Templeton, 29, made a total of £442,000 in ill-gotten gains during his time as a drug dealer.
The news emerged during a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Prosecutors had taken Templeton, who is currently serving a three-and-a-half-year jail term, back to court for a proceeds of crime action.
However, the action was brought to an end after prosecutors and Templeton's defence team agreed on the sums that he made during his criminal conduct.
Prosecutor Bryan Heaney told judge Alison Stirling that Templeton only had £143,016.14 available to hand over to the authorities at this point in time.
Templeton, of Johnstone, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow last year to plead guilty to a charge of being concerned in supplying cocaine.
On that occasion, the court heard how he tried to flee from police and had thrown a bag of cocaine worth £150,000 from his car.
READ MORE: 'You will pay a heavy price': Pair used weapons to assault four strangers in Glasgow
The court heard how Templeton had reversed at speed in his Audi A3 after spotting officers in Penilee, Glasgow, on April 14, 2023.
Prosecutor Eilidh Robertson told how he initially bashed into a motor, and refused to stop before mounting a pavement and colliding with a police car.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how Templeton then escaped from the Audi and ran off.
But he was soon caught having been seen to throw a plastic bag away.
It was picked up and officers found high-purity cocaine with a maximum potential value of £149,600.
A total of more than £1,000 in cash was also seized after Templeton was held.
Templeton pleaded guilty to a charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
It emerged he already had a previous drugs conviction.
READ MORE: Former Celtic star has court case thrown out by prosecutors
The court heard Templeton had been in serious financial issues at the time.
Defence lawyer Paul Mullen said: "On the day in question, he was employed (in the offence) to reduce some of the debt that was owed.
"This was not the first occasion that he was concerned in the supply of drugs.
"This was an enterprise that he went into with his eyes wide open and it came to the attention of the police."
Mr Mullen added Templeton was "not a silly man" which had involved him working with a mental health organisation "which he has benefitted from'.
Lord Arthurson said a prison term had to be imposed and he sentenced Templeton to three and a half years.
Judge Alison Stirling ordered the sum of £143,016.14 to be handed over to the authorities.
Prosecutors can return to court at any time in the near future to recover more sum if they identify assets linked to Templeton's offending.
