A SELKIRK man died just hours after swallowing an illegal substance known as a mephedrone bomb.
But with a post mortem failing to determine what killed Greg Alexander, 23, who also suffered health problems, the dealer who supplied the class B substance never faced charges in connection with the twin’s death.
At the town’s Sheriff Court on Monday, Alistair Tough, 37, of Gaitschaw Lane, Selkirk, appeared on indictment and admitted being concerned in the supply of mephedrone between March 2 and 5 last year to five people, including former Royal Scots soldier Mr Alexander, at houses in Scott Crescent and Gaitschaw Lane, Selkirk.
After watching the Old Firm Scottish Cup replay on March 2 in local pubs, a friend organised people to go back to the Scott Crescent home shortly after 11pm.
Procurator fiscal Morag McLintock said the group was asked by Tough “Anyone want a line?” before white powder was placed on a CD case at the house.
She told the court: “Everyone with the exception of one individual snorted a line of the drug known as mephedrone.
“At that point, sometime after 1am on March 3, the accused asked if anyone would like a mephedrone bomb, which involves swallowing a package of the amphetamine-type drug from cigarette papers instead of the usual snorting. The accused and the deceased both swallowed one.
“Around 15 to 20 minutes later the deceased’s behaviour was noted to change and he began acting erratically.
“They assisted in putting him in another room and put him in the recovery position.
“They checked on him a number of times and he had been snoring but that changed and concerns were raised.
“An ambulance was called but the paramedics were not informed about what had happened earlier.
“He was taken to Borders General Hospital where at 03.52 hours his life was pronounced extinct.”
Police obtained a search warrant for Tough’s home at Gaitschaw Lane, on March 5, where three bags of mephedrone, worth £24, were found.
A business card and mobile phones were examined, which contained the drug’s street name, “bubble”.
“With regard to the post mortem report, it is fair to say there is not one single cause of death,” continued Ms McLintock.
“The deceased was found to have mephedrone in his system but it cannot be identified by the Crown as what directly killed him.”
Ms McLintock said if there was a direct link between the death and the mephedrone bomb then Tough would have been facing much different charges in a higher court.
She said the other four named people who took the drug lines that night did not suffer any consequences.
Defence solicitor Matthew Berlowe told the court: “After investigation, the Crown can no way attribute the death of this individual to my client.”
Mr Berlowe added: “A variety of substances were identified in the forensic report and there were pre-existing health difficulties so it is not known what was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
Sheriff Kevin Drummond deferred sentence until February 13 for reports.
Mr Alexander’s twin brother, Gary, and father, Bruce, were in court to hear the case.
Mr Alexander was a footballer with Border Amateur League side Selkirk Victoria. His former team-mates had his nickname, Mallet, printed on their shirts after his death and dedicated their Collie Cup final win last season to him.