A DRUG dealer who was caught with almost £20,000 worth of cannabis and heroin has been jailed for more than two years.

Marc Crainie, of Meldrum Street, Clydebank, previously pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis and heroin at a flat in Dumbarton Road on December 14, 2017.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court previously heard that the 25-year-old first offender was caught after police put his flat under surveillance and they saw “comings and goings”.

Armed with a search warrant, officers later found two “substantial” quantities of heroin with a street value of £10,000. They also found cannabis with a maximum street value of £9,840.

Crainie’s flat also had a safe with drugs equipment, such as scales, mixing agents and polythene bags.

Defence lawyer Tom Long told the court on Friday: “Not withstanding the seriousness of the offences, he is a young man with no previous convictions. He is entirely realistic as to what is likely to happen.

“He is a working man from a decent, ordinary family. At the time of these offences he had a lot of debt and made this foolish decision. He was under duress.

“He has been entirely candid and fully accepts responsibility for what he has done, and that what he did would have a detrimental effect on the community.

“He was working as an apprentice joiner, but has been suspended awaiting the outcome of this hearing. His partner is also pregnant and expecting in February. He has the support of his family.”

Sheriff Simon Pender, after considering a background report and jailing Crainie for 27 months, said: “This is a very serious matter indeed with the amounts of each batch of drugs both £10,000 or thereabouts and you also had all the usual drugs equipment.

“I have heard an explanation, but it was you who chose to do this.

“There is no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence. The message must get out that drug dealers face significant sentences from the courts.”

Crainie’s family, sitting in the public benches, broke down in tears as he was handcuffed in the dock and led away to begin his sentence.