THREE pupils ended up in hospital after a teenager sold them “legal highs” outside a north secondary.
Adam Fraser was warned yesterday he could be locked up for giving the boys herbal substances to smoke.
The children – aged 13, 14 and 15 – became so ill they were admitted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment.
First-offender Fraser was also told yesterday he could have been standing in the dock at the High Court – if any of the pupils had died or been seriously injured.
He admitted culpable and reckless conduct outside Charleston Academy in Inverness on September 5 by supplying herbal substances to four pupils for them to smoke. The legal highs were peddled under the names Sensa and Legal Genesis.
Fiscal depute Amanda Mitchell told Inverness Sheriff Court that Fraser, 16, who no longer attended Charleston Academy, knew the boys and met them the previous day.
She said: “He asked them if they would like to try Sensa and Legal Genesis and said he would sell it to them for £8 to £10. He came back the following day and they took it, rolling cigarettes with the substance and tobacco before smoking it during the lunch-break.
“They went back to school and became very sick. A member of staff found them in the toilet and an ambulance was called to take them to hospital. There have been no long-term effects from smoking the substance, which was forensically examined and found to contain herbal matter.”
Fraser’s agent, solicitor Rory Gowans, said: “It was foolishness on his part. He met them the day before and came back the following day to carry out the transaction, but no money changed hands.
“He was oblivious to what occurred in the school and he is aghast at what happened. He realises how serious it could have been.”
Sheriff Margaret Neilson said: “It involved a 13-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old. They were children.
“No one has any idea what is in legal highs. He could have been facing a much more serious charge and could be sitting in the High Court.”
Mr Gowans replied: “This has been a wake-up call for him and he has taken on board how serious it could have been. There was a degree of immaturity here and he has grown up in the course of this case.
“He had been in a job but lost it because of his involvement with this case.”
The sheriff told Watson: “You clearly didn’t recognise the consequences of ingesting unknown substances and need some education.
“I will defer sentence for three months and you will be required to comply with anything the social workers want you to do. It is up to you how you perform and behave during this period.
“But I warn you all options are open to the court.”
Fraser, of 38 Millerton Avenue, Inverness, said outside court: “That is me finished with legal highs.”
Inverness West councillor Graham Ross said: “I hope that young people note the example and learn from it.”