A man caught with cocaine worth £7000 has been hit in the pocket but avoided a jail sentence.
Stuart Rae, 25, was placed under supervision for a year and fined £1000 at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.
He admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug at his home in Morven Avenue, Blantyre, on September 1, 2020.
Aga Mathieson, prosecuting, said there was no one at home when police officers armed with a search warrant went to the house.
She told the court: "During the search they recovered 11 bags containing a white rock substance.
"The total weight was 317 grammes and forensic analysis confirmed it was cocaine.
"The accused was traced later and made no reply when charged."
Defence agent Andy Thomson said Rae was in the grip of a "horrendous" cocaine habit at the time.
The solicitor stated: "I'm pleased to report he has reversed that and is now completely drug-free.
"He has obtained full time employment and works seven days a week."
Sheriff John Speir told Rae that being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug was "very serious" and until recently prison would have been "automatic" for such an offence.
But the sheriff added: "I see you are now making a positive contribution to society and I think it's in everyone's interests that you are allowed to continue on that track.
"You are being fined because there was clearly a commercial element to this enterprise."
Rae was also ordered to do 240 hours of unpaid community work within a year and will be electronically tagged for six months.
That means he's confined to his home between 8pm and 6am each day.
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