A Kilwinning man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting supplying heroin in Irvine and Kilwinning last year.

39-year-old Matthew Ferguson pled guilty when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday, Monday, 19 March 2018, to supplying the Class A drug in the Ayrshire towns in September 2017.

Ferguson was arrested in November 2017 as part of an intelligence-led operation, co-ordinated between the Ayrshire and Specialist Crime Divisions, targeting the supply of controlled drugs in the area.

Detective Superintendent Jim Kerr of Police Scotland said: “This the second conviction in as many weeks in relation to this operation. The sentence handed to Ferguson reinforces the message that supplying drugs that blight our communities will not be tolerated by Police Scotland or North Ayrshire communities.  

“We will ensure officers continue to focus on this criminal activity and with the support of the local community identify anyone involved and bring them before the courts.''