AN ALEXANDRIA man was found with six wraps of heroin, along with almost £5,000 in cash and a diary of names and numbers, after being pulled over by police in Dumbarton.

But Robert Cameron claimed that the money and contacts book related to his work as a joiner, Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard.

Cameron, 45, pleaded guilty to a charge of being concerned in the supply of heroin when he appeared in court on Friday.

A plea of not guilty to a further charge of obstructing a drugs search was accepted by prosecutors.

The court heard that Cameron, who lives with his parents in Golfhill Drive, was pulled over by police on Stirling Road at 10.45pm on May 25 last year while driving his Subaru van towards Dumbarton.

Fiscal depute Emma Thomson said that after exiting the vehicle, Cameron immediately put his hand into his jacket pocket and produced a clear bag of money containing £4,670 in mixed notes.

He was said to be sweating and repeatedly placed his hands in and out of his pockets, before producing a wallet which contained various cards and a further £135 in mixed notes.

The court heard that due to his demeanour and him being nervous, Cameron was detained by officers for a search, which resulted in the recovery of six small wraps of brown powder.

Police then searched Cameron's van, finding a set of digital scales and a diary with names and numbers, as well as a notepad.

The powder - which was later analysed and found to be heroin - accounted to 5.5 grams in total, worth £180.

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Cameron's solicitor, Ian Brechany, told Friday's hearing: "He [Cameron] is a time-served joiner.

"He had issues with one of the vans he was buying. He was awaiting £3,800 from an insurance company providing him with a van.

"In between times he hired a van and he was looking immediately to purchase another van, and kept money back from various jobs. He was using the money to run his business.

"This is not a defence as far as the proceeds of crime are concerned, but his involvement in the supply of a class A drug was at a much lower value than would be suggested by the mere fact he had this significant sum of money on him.

"The books, he tells me, link in with the persons and customers he worked with in the local area.

"He accepts entirely his guilt in respect of the charge [supply of heroin]. He has taken a pragmatic view with regards to this matter."

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Fiscal depute Emma Thomson said she could not accept the defence that the significant sum of money had nothing to do with the supply of the drug.

In addition to the drugs charge, Cameron had previously pleaded guilty to driving without a licence in Northfield Road, Alexandria on November 10, 2018, having had his licence revoked three months previously, and to failing to stop for police when required to do so on the same day.

Narrowing his fingers, Sheriff William Gallacher told Cameron: "You are within that distance of me imposing a lengthy prison sentence."

The case was adjourned in order for a social work report to be prepared and sentence was deferred on all matters until November 28.

Sheriff Gallacher told Cameron: "I am not promising you won't find yourself in custody. On any view, this is a serious matter, and I'm sure you know that as well as I do."