A TWICE-CONVICTED drug dealer has again avoided a jail sentence – because he is aged under 25.

Cocaine dealer Brandon Waterson appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court having been caught with the drugs after his car was stopped by police.

Waterson, 21, of Strathnairn Court, Glenrothes, admitted that on September 21, at Halbeath Road, Dunfermline, he was in possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Depute fiscal Jill Currie said police had stopped Waterson’s car and found two bags of cocaine weighing 25.9 grams and 7.6 grams. There was also £156 in cash in the vehicle.

Defence solicitor Heather Morrison said: “He has demonstrated a lack of maturity.”

Sheriff James MacDonald pointed out that, given this was Waterson's second such conviction, “not very long ago” the case would have been brought on indictment rather than under summary procedure. This could have led to him being jailed “for years”.

He added it was “absolutely clear” the previous community-based sentence had little effect on Waterson and he considered he should be jailed for six months.

However, the sheriff said that only because of the current guidelines on custody for those under 25, he would not jail him.

Instead, he imposed a restriction of liberty order for 14 weeks.

In March, at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Waterson, who was living in Ballingry at the time, was sentenced to 160 hours of unpaid work after admitting having cocaine with intent to supply. That offence took place in March last year in Kirkcaldy.