Ex-janitor found not guilty in drugs case set to sue

A FORMER primary school janitor who was sacked after thousands of pounds worth of amphetamine was discovered in his home is suing council chiefs for unfair dismissal after being cleared in court.

• Colin Park and Corina King

Colin Park, 45, had faced charges of being concerned in the supply of drugs from his home in Restalrig Drive, just yards away from St Ninian's Roman Catholic Primary School where he worked.

His partner, Corina King, 37, admitted the charge at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday but his plea of not guilty was accepted.

The court heard Mr Park was waiting for the court case to be concluded to take his case against the city council to an employment tribunal.

It is understood that Mr Park is suing for compensation for unfair dismissal, and is not seeking to be given his job back.

His home backs directly on to the school playground, but is a private residence and was not let out to him as part of his job.

The court heard yesterday that Ms King's 14-year-old son had answered the door to a violent criminal and drug dealer, who is now serving at least ten years in prison for various offences, and was handed a bag of white powder worth up to 3300.

The dealer, who was an old school friend of King, had been under police surveillance and a raid on the property the following day recovered the bag hidden in a wardrobe.

King is set to be sentenced next month after admitting being involved in the supply of the class B drug at Restalrig Drive between April 20 and 21 last year.

A team of officers searched the home during the swoop on April 21, which took place while youngsters were in the school next door.

Fiscal depute Gerald Drugan told the court that officers recovered 924 grammes of amphetamine during the raid.

He added that the drugs had a "wholesale value" of 1400, but could be sold in smaller deals to bring in between 2970 and 3300.

Mr Drugan said: "An individual had dropped the bag at the house on April 20. It was taken in by Ms King's 14-year-old son. There is no suggestion that her son had anything to do with it. Ms King became aware that the bag contained drugs on April 20.

"It's the Crown's position that she was storing the drugs in the house."

King's solicitor, Kenneth Cloggie, told the court: "This bag was dropped off by someone who has since been given a double- figure sentence in prison at the High Court for a crime of significant violence. That person was also charged with drug offences.

"My client knew this person from school. When she discovered what was in the bag she could have avoided court by disposing of it.

"The truth is she knew who this person was and put the bag in the wardrobe.

"We believe that this person was under police surveillance. Police officers attended the house and the discovery was made.

"Her partner was a janitor at St Ninian's Primary School at the time, and he has lost his job."

Sheriff Isabella McColl said: "Whether it's fair in terms of employment law, we will find out."

Sheriff McColl deferred sentence on King until April 27 for community service and social inquiry reports.

A city council spokesman said: "It would be inappropriate to comment given that the case is ongoing."