ERI staff told police about drug dealer

A MEMBER of staff's suspicions about a patient at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary led to the discovery of quantities of heroin and cocaine and £420 of cash in his property.

Police were called after the patient spent 40 minutes in a toilet at the hospital.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, 24-year-old Forbes Ewing, of Giles Street, Edinburgh, was placed on an 18-month Drug Treatment and Testing Order. Ewing had pleaded guilty previously to being concerned in the supply of drugs after the discovery at the hospital in February this year.

Ewing admitted himself to the hospital on Sunday, 1 February, complaining of pains in his legs and feet.

He was kept in overnight and in the early hours of the Monday morning, but when staff became suspicious they contacted police and officers found 20 wraps of heroin and 14 of cocaine as well as 420 in cash.

The total street value of the drugs was 650.