A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to 160 hours of unpaid work and placed under a 12-month supervision order after a toddler in his care was discovered with packets of diazepam and cocaine in her jacket at a Glasgow nursery.
George Robertson of Paisley, Renfrewshire, admitted two charges of wilfully exposing children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to health. At Glasgow Sheriff Court, he was handed a community disposal rather than a custodial sentence.
The incident came to light on 27 May 2025, when staff at the nursery on Glasgow's Southside were caring for a two-year-old girl whom Robertson had brought in. As a member of staff attempted to give the child a dummy, a small bag of white powder fell from the child's jacket pocket. Officers who later attended the scene reported detecting traces of cannabis on the child's bag, and a separate packet of cocaine was also recovered from the jacket.
Police subsequently conducted a search of Robertson's home, which they found to be clean and tidy but with minimal food supplies and no electricity connected to the property.
What was Robertson's explanation?
Robertson told officers that he did not use diazepam and had never previously discovered drugs in the jacket. He suggested that another individual who had contact with the child may have placed the substances there. His legal representative acknowledged in court that Robertson should have inspected the child's jacket given his awareness of this other person's drug problems.
What other concerns emerged about child welfare?
Beyond the drugs discovery, the court heard evidence of broader welfare issues affecting children in Robertson's care. A six-month-old baby was taken to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow after another person identified evidence of friction burn on her body. Medical examination revealed the infant had dirty and notably long nails, severe nappy rash with no sign of treatment, and dry skin with scabs.
These findings were presented to the court as part of the evidence supporting the charges Robertson faced.
How did the court respond?
Sheriff Anna Reid described the offences as
extremely seriousand noted that nursery staff were fortunate to have discovered the substances when they did. She determined that a community disposal—consisting of unpaid work and supervision—was an appropriate alternative to imprisonment in this case.
How common are such incidents?
Similar cases have emerged in Scotland in recent years. According to a separate case reported by a Scottish broadcaster, a couple received 300 hours of unpaid work and two years' supervision each after cocaine was found in a baby's system, demonstrating that courts have applied comparable community-based sentences in related circumstances.
Under Scottish Sentencing Council guidance on possession of controlled drugs, penalties can range from fines to custody depending on the drug classification and specific circumstances, with Class A offences carrying the most severe potential sentences. The presence of drugs in a child's environment and the failure to protect a child from exposure to such substances are aggravating factors that courts consider when determining appropriate sentences.
Key facts
- Two packets of drugs—diazepam and cocaine—were found in a two-year-old's jacket pocket at a Glasgow nursery on 27 May 2025
- Robertson admitted two charges of wilfully exposing children to unnecessary suffering or injury to health
- A six-month-old baby in his care showed signs of neglect, including severe nappy rash, friction burn, and poor hygiene
- He received 160 hours of unpaid work and a 12-month supervision order as an alternative to custody
- Sheriff Anna Reid described the offences as extremely serious but accepted community disposal as appropriate in this case
