Drugs recoveries see Newmains man jailed - and a Holytown man awaiting sentence

Thomas Cooper, 33, of Jimmy Sneddon Way, spat in the face of a police station worker when he was arrested.

Cooper was sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week. He admitted being concerned in the supply of the drug and assaulting the custody officer.

The pills, worth £53,500, were seized following a police raid on his then home in Murdostoun View, Newmains, in August 2019. After his arrest Cooper "became difficult" at Motherwell police station.

Neil Thomson, prosecuting, said: "As he was being led away from the charge bar, the accused turned and spat directly in the face of a female custody officer and the saliva struck her forehead."

Defence agent Diarmid Bruce said his client had been in debt to dealers and agreed to store the pills for them. On the spitting incident, the lawyer admitted: "It's disgusting, but he hadn't taken his medication that day and became restless in the police station."

Sheriff Linda Nicolson said Cooper had "a significant record for violence against the police". She told him only a jail sentence was appropriate.

At the same court a bricklayer admitted having cocaine worth £122,000 in his living room cupboard

Kenneth Burns claimed he agreed to store the Class A drug to pay off a debt. He said he owed £10,000 to a man known only as Chuck.

Burns, 36, of Park Avenue, Holytown, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine at his home in October 2019. Police officers seized a block of cocaine weighing nearly a kilo and a bag containing almost 200g of the drug in powdered form. Traces of cocaine were found on scales, a blender, sieve, plate and spoon in the kitchen.

Abby Seal, prosecuting, said: "He had agreed to allow his home to be used for storing controlled drugs to assist paying back the debt. He gave Chuck a key to the property."

Dad of one Burns, who lives alone, has no previous convictions. His fingerprints were found on the 1kg block of cocaine.

Defence agent Simon Gilmour told the court: "He accepts he had his hands on it, but it was only to move it after individuals brought it to his home."

Sentence was deferred.