A teenager who sold legal highs to younger ex-school pals – landing three in hospital – has been let off with a court warning.
First offender Adam Fraser, who is now 17, said he is “finished” with the drugs after his court experience.
In June, the teenager admitted culpable and reckless conduct outside Charleston Academy in Inverness on September 5 last year by supplying herbal substances called Sensa and Legal Genesis to three pupils aged 13, 14 and 15 years.
The trio smoked them, making them ill and it resulted in them being admitted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Sentence was deferred until yesterday for social work involvement with the teenager, who was 16 at the time of the offence, and an update background report was prepared for Sheriff Margaret Neilson.
She admonished the teenager and noted: “It is a positive report and you seem to have grown up a lot.”
Inverness Sheriff Court was previously told that Fraser, who had left the school, knew the boys and met them the day before the transaction.
Fiscal depute Amanda Mitchell said: “He asked them if they would like to try Sensa and Legal Genesis and said he would sell it to them for £8-£10.
“He came back the following day and they took it, rolling cigarettes with the substance and tobacco before smoking it during the lunchbreak.
“They went back to school and became very sick. A member of staff was informed 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.”
Defence agent 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 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 said: “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.”
At the time of his June appearance, Fraser, of 38 Millerton Avenue, Inverness, said he regretted what he had done and added: “That’s me finished with legal highs.”