John Blain admitted being in possession of the class A drug in August last year, telling officers he was looking after it to fund his own habit.

And at court last Tuesday, Sheriff John Herald duly obliged Blain’s somewhat strange request, after he asked to be jailed so he could move on with his life.

The court heard how police attended his Faifley Road home last year after a tip off, finding some diamorphine in his shirt pocket after detaining the 41-year-old.

A more thorough search found more of the drug as well as a wad of £110 lying on the living room table.

Prosecuting, Malcolm McLeod told the court: “He stated that he had a heroin habit, but that he was just holding this for someone else. He was asked whether he was holding on to get a bag now and then.

“He replied, ‘possibly’. He was asked whether they belonged to someone he knew and answered, ‘that’s possible’. He was asked if he was holding this to fund his own habit and said, ‘ yes’.” Defending, Mr Patterson told the court how his client was married with an 18-year-old son, and had been asked to leave his house by his wife after the incident.

Mr Patterson added: “He has a record, but once you ship out his road traffic offences, there’s not much. He was asked to hold onto these drugs and that allowed him to have some every now and then.

“The person that’s holding has to accept responsibility for them, but it’s the case people higher up the drug food chain leave quantities with people they think it will be safe with.” Sheriff Herald was ready to defer sentence for the preparation of a report due to the lack of analogous offending, but Mr Patterson advised his client wished to have the matter dealt with, even if it meant going to jail.

“Well I see he has come prepared,” Sheriff Herald added. “This is not the highest level of possession I have seen and not the lowest.

“The maximum sentence available to me today is 12 months, but I will reduce this because of your immediate plea and cooperation.” Blain was sentenced to eight months in jail.