A top university student caught with cocaine at an Aberdeen nightclub had his criminal record wiped clean after a sheriff ruled a drugs conviction should not “blight” his career prospects.
Conor McCarthy, a mechanical engineering student at Strathclyde University, was caught with a bag of the class A drug by police officers.
The 21-year-old had been celebrating the end of his exams with some friends after returning home to the north-east for the summer.
Yesterday McCarthy, of Pinelands, 10 Queens Road, Ballater, appeared at the city’s sheriff court and admitted being in possession of the cocaine.
He was handed an absolute discharge by the sheriff after the court heard the crime could cost him his career.
This means that he will not be punished for the offence, nor will it ever appear on his criminal record.
Last night north-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said the courts should not treat people favourably because of their background or education.
He said: “It is important the system is even handed in the way it treats people. An offence is and offence no matter who carries it out. There should be no social prejudices no matter what when dealing with these cases.”
McCarthy was spotted acting suspiciously in the toilets of the Tunnels on May 24 and was searched by officers who suspected him of being in possession of drugs.
He was found with a bag of white power in his hands, which was later discovered to be cocaine.
Representing the first offender in court yesterday, solicitor Gregor Kelly said his client had been at a party celebrating the end of term and had been offered drugs which were worth about £35.
He said: “He was back in Aberdeen and had been offered some cocaine. He is rather naive and immature and is not often in Aberdeen and was caught up in the moment of the big city.”
Mr Kelly said McCarthy realised he had “let himself and his family down” and said his father was “extremely ashamed” of his son’s behaviour.
The solicitor added: “He is headed for a first class degree and this would be a major blight to his future.”
The sheriff agreed and said: “Having previous convictions for drug offences can blight ones career in all sorts of ways, I do not want you to have that, and in all the circumstances I grant you an absolute discharge.”