A PAOLO Nutini impersonator has appeared in court charged with drug dealing after pills worth more than £400,000 were allegedly found at his Renfrewshire home.

Jamie King McArthur, whose stage name is Paolo Martini, appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon.

The 27-year-old is charged with being concerned in the supply of Etizolam – a former legal high that is often sold as Valium and is now a class C drug – at his home in Earlshill Drive, Howwood, last Thursday.

McArthur was arrested alongside 29-year-old Jamie Woods and Allana Morton, 27, and they were held in police custody at Helen Street police station, in Glasgow’s Govan area, for four nights before their court appearance.

All three are charged with breaking the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 by being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs.

Woods and McArthur also faced a separate single charge of being in possession of cannabis, in breach of the same Act.

It’s understood police were executing a search warrant at the property in Earlshill Drive when the alleged discovery of drugs was made.

Forensic officers in protective suits could be seen removing a number of items during the operation.

McArthur was represented by defence solicitor Terry Gallanagh during his short court hearing, where he made no plea and was released on bail.

Mr Gallanagh, a partner in law firm McCusker, McElroy and Gallanagh, also appeared on behalf of Woods, of Kirkinner Place, Main Street, Bridge of Weir, who also made no plea and was remanded in custody.

Defence lawyer Kirsty McGeehan, a partner in law firm McGeehan and Company, appeared on behalf of Morton, who also made no plea and was released on bail.

Sheriff James Spy continued the case against them for prosecutors to investigate further and no future court dates have been set.