Cops slated after man dies from coke binge in custody

He swallowed drugs despite being supervised by two cops

- PAUL DRURY

POLICE have been criticised by a sheriff after a young man celebrating his 21st birthday was able to swallow cocaine while in custody, dying 10 days later.

James MacGregor, from Hamilton, had been bingeing on drink and drugs during an all-night party with friends.

He told one friend he had bought a seven-gram bag of cocaine for £450.

But an altercation with his mum as the celebrations went on led to him being arrested and taken to Motherwell Police Station in August 2019.

There, while being supervised by officers in the holding area, Sheriff Linda Nicolson said James probably retrieved a package of cocaine from his sock and placed it in his mouth.

One of the police officers supervising him was seen scrolling through his mobile phone and another was staring at the floor.

Sheriff Nicolson has now made a number of recommendations over the way prisoners are searched and monitored following drug-related arrests.