A CLACKS man who admitted "providing drugs" to his friends has been given a fine as the thought of completing unpaid work made him "extremely anxious".

Kevin Murphy, 42, was slapped with the £685 penalty when he appeared for sentencing at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, July 11.

He previously pleaded guilty to a charge of supplying and another of possessing the Class B drug cannabis, as well as a third charge of threatening behaviour.

Murphy, who lives with his parents, came to the attention of police when his mum and dad contacted them about his "erratic" behaviour on December 19 last year.

On that occasion, fiscal depute Susannah Hutchison said the pair believed their son was on drugs because he was "unsteady on his feet" and "drowsy".

Officers arrived at the property at 9.40pm and found Murphy in his bedroom.

They also found "a block of brown resin substance" in the room, subsequently confirmed as 97.2grammes of cannabis with a value of around £300.

After noticing police had spotted the drugs, Murphy brazenly told them: "Don't touch my cannabis, that's for personal use."

Police warned Murphy about his behaviour and then left the property.

However, they were called back again early the next morning by his parents, as they wanted him removed from their home.

Officers attended at 9.30am, and Murphy walked into the living room at that time "clearly under the influence of alcohol or drugs".

Some of the officers explained to him that his parents wanted him to leave, while others went back upstairs to search his room again.

They found another quantity of cannabis, weighing 2.6grammes and valued at around £10.

Upon being told to leave his parents' home, Murphy made threats of self-harm and was taken to Falkirk Police Office.

During a search he was found to be in possession of a phone, several sim cards and scales.

An examination of the phone revealed Murphy had sent messages to someone on December 19 about "providing drugs".

In mitigation, Robert Smith claimed his client had tried to plead guilty to the offences as early as possible – but had had some issues accepting he had dealt drugs.

He said: "He [Murphy] wouldn't accept that giving cannabis to his friends without money changing hands amounted to supply."

This was challenged by Ms Hutchison, who said the messages on Murphy's phone relating to supplying drugs did include references to money.

But Mr Smith claimed his client's plea of guilty to supplying drugs had been accepted on the basis that no money had changed hands.

He then said Murphy is in receipt of benefits and would rather pay a fine than complete unpaid work, because the thought of it caused him "considerable anxiety".

Sheriff David Mackie expressed some regret that Murphy, of Mount William in Sauchie, would not complete unpaid work, before fining him as an alternative.