A JOHNSTONE man who was caught with a £10,000 cocaine haul has been jailed – and ordered to hand over £2,620 in crime profits.

Jordan Shepherd, 23, was rumbled when officers arrived at his home in connection with a separate matter while he was having a party.

But it turned out to be party time for the police, not Shepherd, as they smelled cannabis – leading them to discover plants worth £1,200, the cocaine haul and a stash of cash.

The details emerged when Shepherd returned to the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court to be sentenced over the offences.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of being concerned in the supply of controlled cocaine and producing cannabis after being caught with the drugs at his home in Spateston Road on April 2 last year.

Procurator fiscal depute Pamela Brady told the court that, as well as cocaine and cannabis, police found almost £1,000 cash in a box in the bedroom and £1,640 in another elsewhere in the flat.

Experts said the cocaine was worth almost £4,500 wholesale, but just over £10,000 if sold on the streets, while the cannabis was estimated to be worth up to £1,200.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew had warned Shepherd he was facing a jail term as he adjourned sentencing for background reports to be prepared.

Shepherd, now of nearby Highcraig Avenue, returned to the dock this week to learn his fate.

Defence solicitor Charlie McCusker explained that what was supposed to be a fun night for Shepherd turned into months of misery, due to the drugs find and resulting court case.

Mr McCusker said his client had been preyed upon by a drug dealer after running up a debt – and had refused to name the person responsible.

He added: “This only happened because there was a party at his house, the police were called and they smelled cannabis.”

After hearing that prosecutors worked out Shepherd had made £12,780 from his involvement in the drug trade and that £2,620 could be seized from him, Sheriff Pettigrew ruled the money should be paid within three months.

He then jailed Shepherd for 30 months for the offences, reduced from 40 months as he admitted his guilt.

As he did so, Sheriff Pettigrew told him: “Being concerned in the supply of such a quantity of cocaine, even if only for a day, and holding it for someone else is an integral part of the supply chain.

“It’s a serious offence to be allowing your house to be used as a safe house to pay off your debts.

“Punishment and deterrence must reflect the gravity of the offence and, in my view, there only is one appropriate sentence today and that is a custodial sentence.”