A MAN caught with up to £120,000 of cocaine at his home in Kilwinning has been jailed.

Robert McLaughlin, 27, admitted hoarding 2.3kg of the Class A drug in Blacklands Avenue on January 29, 2015.

A court heard how McLaughlin let a gang use his home to store the drugs, in a bid to clear crippling debts.

McLaughlin feared he would be killed if he did not let the gang use his home.

He also admitted to growing cannabis for his own personal use.

It was revealed at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court how police received information that McLaughlin was cultivating cannabis.

On arrival at the property, police could smell the drug and carried out an inspection, noticing juvenile plants and lighting equipment.

But officers also noticed a plastic tub containing powder and white residue on the kitchen worktops.

They forced entry into the property after obtaining a warrant and found tubs and scales with residue of white powder. No one was within the property at that time.

In the kitchen and living room they discovered two bags of white powder, self-seal bags containing similar powder, scales, mixing bottles, a barometer, a spoon containing powder and green herbal material.

Police then made their way to the bedroom and found a large bag containing three clear bags of white powder. The total weight was calculated at 2,342g.

The powder tested positive for cocaine and the herbal material was found to be cannabis.

It was estimated by depute fiscal Mhairi Mair that the cocaine was worth between £50,000 and £120,000.

McLaughlin was traced to his aunt’s house and admitted to growing the cannabis, saying: “It’s the first time I’ve ever done anything like that. It’s the first time I’ve tried to grow a crop because I couldn’t afford to buy it.”

He initially denied knowledge of the cocaine but admitted to officers that he was threatened “not to say anything”.

McLaughlin added during police interview: “They said if I don’t let them do it they’re going to break my legs."

In addition, McLaughlin said he suspected it was cocaine but did not want to say anything because he feared he would be killed.

McLaughlin, of Caley House, Howgate, said the reason they used his home was because he owed money for a drugs debt.

He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine in May and returned to the dock from custody last week for sentencing.

Presiding Sheriff Brian Murphy immediately voiced his concerns about the amount - and whether or not it should be considered by a High Court judge.

He said: “The amount here is very considerable. Indeed the amount is such that it may be taken beyond this court.”

Sheriff Murphy adjourned the case for 15 minutes before returning to the bench to hear from McLaughlin’s solicitor Alex Muir.

According to Mr Muir, before going into custody, the unemployed McLaughlin had been living at a different address in Caley House with his brother.

Mr Muir said the cannabis was for McLaughlin’s own use but he had accrued debts to drug dealers who told him in no uncertain terms they would be using his house.

The solicitor said: “He was visited by people who told him his house would be used for the preparation of drugs for transmission.

“He should have done something about that and said he was too afraid to do anything other than comply.”

Mr Muir added: “He’s pled guilty to a very serious matter and to being involved in the supply.

“I sat through the police interview with him and he was quite clearly frightened of the situation he found himself in.

“He’s a very soft person and in some ways vulnerable. He does not have the personality to be in charge of this sort of operation.”

Mr Muir conceded that due to the gravity of the offence, a prison sentence would be inevitable for McLaughlin, who appeared in court as a first offender.

When passing sentence, Sheriff Murphy said: “The amount of drugs, in excess of 2,000g, leaves me with no alternative than to impose a substantial custodial sentence.

“No other sentence is appropriate due to the nature, amount and the value of the cocaine.”

McLaughlin was sentenced to four years and two months in prison backdated to May 23 when he was first remanded.