A BRUCEHILL man with an “enthusiasm” for cocaine was caught with three different class A drugs when police searched him in a car park.

Officers in an unmarked car saw Brian Buist acting suspiciously in the car park on Glasgow Road – and found the drugs when they searched him after he tried to run away.

But the 39-year-old was given a chance in court last week to get his life back on track by kicking his drug habit.

Buist, of Ardoch Crescent, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court for sentencing on Friday, June 16 after pleading guilty to three separate charges of drug possession, relating to quantities of heroin, cocaine and ecstasy, and to intentionally obstructing police by struggling and trying to run away.

All the offences were committed at the car park near the St James retail park shortly after 9.30pm on October 7.

Scott Simpson, prosecuting, told the hearing three police officers in an unmarked car had decided to speak to Buist after seeing him in the car park.

Mr Simpson said: “As soon as they started speaking to him they decided there were grounds for suspicion: his speech was slurred, his eyes were dilated, and he appeared to be fidgeting.

“Police told him he was going to be searched, and the search had commenced when the accused started resisting and was struggling with police, pulling his arms away and attempting to run off.

“This was far from successful given that there were three police officers there. He was brought to the ground, handcuffed and the search continued.”

Mr Simpson said the heroin recovered weighed 0.4 grams and had a value of £20, while seven ecstasy tablets were found with a combined value of £70.

The cocaine which was discovered weighed 5.9 grams and had a total value of £240, prompting Mr Simpson to note: “He seems to have had a bit of an enthusiasm for that product.”

Buist’s solicitor, Scott Adair, asked Sheriff John Hamilton to consider a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) – an intensive programme of rehabilitation, testing and regular social work appointments aimed at ensuring the subject gets clean and stays clean.

Sheriff Hamilton agreed to allow a DTTO assessment to be carried out; the results will be reported back to court on July 19.