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STAR'S DRUG BUST

Glasgow footballer caught with £31,000-worth of cocaine after leg cancer ended his career

A YOUNG footballer whose career was cut short by cancer has been caught with £31,000-worth of drugs.

Cops raided David Fraser's family home in Bearsden in December last year, finding 776 grams of cocaine.

 Cops found £31k of cocaine at David Fraser's family home
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Cops found £31k of cocaine at David Fraser's family home

The 23-year-old avoided jail after pleading guilty to being in possession of the drug with intent to supply.

He was hit with a community payback order as an alternative to prison.

According to the Evening Times, Fraser turned to cocaine after a cancer diagnosis following a football injury.

Doctors found an eight-inch tumour while treating a broken leg he suffered playing for Baljaffray Thistle Under-19s.

 Fraser was diagnosed with cancer after doctors spotted a tumour while treating him for a broken leg
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Fraser was diagnosed with cancer after doctors spotted a tumour while treating him for a broken leg

Fraser will need his leg amputated as a result of the osteosarcoma - and raised funds for Teenage Cancer Trust in 2016, following their support after his diagnosis.

He had kept his drug habit and dealing a secret from his family before police raided their home in Dryburgh Road.

Fraser's solicitor, Callum Weir, told the court: “This is a young man who had an extremely bright future as an 18-year-old.

“He had good employment, which was effectively a safety net had his football career not progressed as he hoped.


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“He was playing semi-professional football. His life was all about health and fitness.

“The accident on the pitch was perhaps fortuitous in that the underlying condition was discovered at that point.

“However the effect, for him, was devastating.

 Fraser's promising career was cut short at 18 after his osteosarcoma diagnosis - and his leg will be amputated
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Fraser's promising career was cut short at 18 after his osteosarcoma diagnosis - and his leg will be amputated

“The life he thought he had in front of him had simply been removed. He has made some particularly poor choices since then, culminating in this matter.”

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: "Many people unfortunately face serious problems in their lives, but do not turn to criminal offending.

“He turned to offending which was practically Premier League.”

Mr Weir put forward that Fraser's vulnerability following his diagnosis had been preyed upon by cunning individuals.

 Fraser kept his cocaine involvement a secret from his family
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Fraser kept his cocaine involvement a secret from his familyCredit: Alamy

He said: "Those who operate [in the drugs trade] are often shrewd business people, who pick up vulnerable individuals in society who become an essential link in the supply chain.

“I would submit that Mr Fraser falls into that category.

“He is physically unable to change his personal circumstances. Amputation is going to happen. That seems an accepted fact.

“When this came to light at the age of 18, he understandably did not cope with it, and is now taking the correct steps to try and move forward in a productive manner.

“His family had not been aware of what was going on. He was keeping the extent of his own drug use from them."

Sheriff Hendry told Fraser: “This is an extremely serious offence. You have become part of the machinery of the drug supply system.

"You have inflicted misery on yourself, you have inflicted misery on your family, and, if this offence had not been detected, you would have brought misery on to numerous others as well.

“Although you had led a blameless life until December, you have, at a single stroke, put yourself in a position where I have to consider sending you to prison.

“I find that I am just about not to send you to prison today.”

Although Fraser avoided jail, he is to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work within the next year.

He will also be supervised by a social worker for two years and must be at home every night from 7pm-7am for the next six months.

Sheriff Hendry gave a final warning, adding: “If you don’t do what you are told to do, you will be appearing before me again, and it is highly likely I will revoke the order and send you to prison.”

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