AN ALLOA man caught with a dozen bags of cocaine and more than 100grammes of cannabis left court with just 180 hours of unpaid work last week – because he was only convicted of possession.

Alexander Sinclair, 26, had originally faced charges of possessing Class A and B drugs with intent to supply.

But by the time he appeared for sentencing at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, July 25, he had managed to have all references to dealing drugs removed from the complaint.

He was caught with the substances after police executed a search warrant at his former home in Alva on March 1 this year.

Fiscal depute Colette Fallon said: "At 10 o'clock in the morning, officers attended at the address.

"A search was carried out and in a bedroom a number of items were recovered.

"These included a quantity of green herbal substance and 12 bags of a white substance.

"Also in the kitchen was a number of glass jars containing a green herbal substance."

The green and white substances were subsequently confirmed and cannabis and cocaine respectively.

A total of 137.23g of cannabis was recovered, which was valued at £1,500 pounds.

The total amount of cocaine came to 8.4g, and was valued £600.

Solicitor Kelly Howe said on Thursday that her client had a previous drug-related conviction from 2012, and two road traffic convictions.

One of those road-traffic offences took place in February 2016, when Sinclair drove at 110mph along a one-lane road near Dollarbeg.

At the time he did not have a driver's license or valid insurance, and was chased by traffic cops for about 12-13 miles.

He was only brought to a stop after police used a Stinger spike strip on his vehicle – and he was later sentenced to 135 days' imprisonment for the offence.

In mitigation for his latest offence, Ms Howe said Sinclair was working to resolve his drug problems.

Sheriff David Mackie said he was satisfied the matter could be dealt with in the community.

He then gave Sinclair, of Hillside Terrace in Alloa, a community payback order with the requirement he complete unpaid work.