Aberdeen drug dealer jailed for throwing cocaine at police officers
- Published
An Aberdeen drug dealer who threw cocaine at police during a raid has been jailed for five years and seven months.
Michael Beaton hit an officer in the face with a block of the drug after he entered his home and then punched him on the head.
Three other officers ingested the airborne powder.
Co-accused Dylan Dunlop was jailed for 40 months for his role in the drug dealing operation.
A court previously heard Beaton ran towards detectives after entry was forced to the property and threw a block of white powder at them.
Det Con Daniel Vardy was hit in the face with the cocaine and inhaled powder through his nose and mouth.
Beaton, 27, was jailed for five years and 219 days at the High Court in Edinburgh.
He earlier admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin between 5 April and 19 June last year.
Beaton pled guilty to assaulting Det Con Daniel Vardy by punching him on the head.
He also admitted culpably and recklessly throwing a quantity of powder containing cocaine at police officers.
The court heard that the drugs recovered had a street value of more than £80,000.
Advocate depute Colin Edward said police armed with a search warrant forced entry to the house.
The prosecutor said: "As they entered the accused Michael Beaton ran towards them and threw a block of compressed powder containing cocaine.
"The block hit Daniel Vardy in the face, causing the powder to go into the air and on the officers and their clothing.
"Officers ingested some of the powder whilst it was in the air."
Defence counsel Jonathan Crowe, representing Beaton, said he had expressed remorse for the assault on the police officer.