A man caught with heroin worth nearly £10,000 has been jailed for 18 months despite a claim that he was merely a "useful idiot" for drug dealers.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that police officers turned up at James Smith's Stonehouse home with a search warrant.
John Coogan, prosecuting, said: "The accused was in the living room.
"When the search started he told the officers 'It's heroin, you'll find it there' while pointing to an Asda bag close to where he was sitting.
"The bag contained 204 grams of heroin with a potential value of £8900 if sold in the usual tenner bag deals.
"Police officers also recovered £215 in cash."
Smith, 50, admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin at his home in Patrickholm Avenue on October 21, 2020.
An allegation that he had the Class A drug with intent to supply others at his home on December 16, 2021, was dropped.
Defence agent Scott Jones said Smith had relapsed into drug use after a number of family bereavements and dealers forced him to look after their heroin.
The solicitor told the court: "He became heavily indebted to those who were supplying him.
"He was taken advantage of and threats were made against him and his family.
"He succumbed to the pressure and became a useful idiot to these people. These were particularly difficult individuals.
"Since committing this offence he no longer takes drugs."
Sheriff John Speir noted that Smith had been in prison before but hadn't been in trouble for some time.
However, the sheriff decided that jail was the only appropriate sentence in the current case.
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