A KILWINNING man claimed that drugs worth £150,000 found within his home were "for personal use and to give to his family".

Kenneth Kilmurry has now been put behind bars after pleading guilty to a pair of charges in relation to being concerned in the supply of both cocaine and cannabis during an appearance at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.

The drugs during a search conducted at the 52-year-old's property on June 15 last year, procurator fiscal depute Jemma McKechnie told the court.

Officers attended the home on Highfield Street in possession of a warrant, and gained entry via an unlocked door. Once inside, Kilmurry was found within alongside his wife and friends.

When police explained why they were present, the Kilwinning man told them that the drugs in the house belonged to him.

An initial search of his person was conducted, with four bags containing a white powder - later discovered to contain cocaine - found. The approximate value of the class A drug was £160.

(Image: Unsplash)

A full search of the property then began, with police discovering further large quantities of illicit substances.

Items recovered were detailed to the court and included a bag for life with blocks of white powder within - as well as a box which contained 128 blocks of cannabis resin.

The total weight of cocaine found was later detailed as 990.13 grams, and 12,777.63 grams of cannabis.

The potential value of the cocaine, if subdivided and sold in the lowest common street deal, the court was told was £78,880-£98,600.

The monetary value of the cannabis, calculated by the same measure, was detailed as £44,200 - giving a total potential value of £142,800.

Police opinion on the cocaine was that circumstances suggested involvement in onwards supply – with the same indication with regards to the cannabis. Both were described as “excessive quantities” for personal use.

During the search, officers also found a number of items which linked Kilmurry to being involved in the supply of drugs.

These included mixing cups, a mixing table, two sets of operational scales, moulds and plates and a hydraulic press. Each of the items were later analysed and found to contain traces of either cocaine, benzocaine or Phenacetin.

Kilmurry was also linked to both the drugs found and the items recovered via DNA evidence.

At the conclusion of the search, the Kilwinning man was arrested, and told police that the drugs belonged to him "for personal use and to give to family".

(Image: Unsplash)

After the recovery, further cyber crime evidence was used to link the 52-year-old to the supply of drugs - after a phone seized during the search was analysed.

A number of incriminating messages were found on the device including conversations between him and a female.

She asked whether accused was available to “drop stuff” or if he knew anyone who could.

He replied “no prop, can’t do tick” – which the court were told were phrases relating to a cocaine mix and being unable to provide with no immediate payment.

Another contacted asking if Kilmurry could give her a “gate” until a later day – a reference to a quantity of drugs.

Images had also been sent to the same woman showing what appeared to be a white powder with a mark on it.

Similar photographs were also sent to another who replied, appearing to suggest their satisfaction with the product shown.

Defending, solicitor Peter Murray commented that this was "clearly a serious matter".

Though he said that as Kilmurry has no previous convictions, background reports will be required before Sheriff Murdoch Mactaggart passes sentence.

Mr Murray added: "Custody at the forefront of your lordship’s mind at the end of this process."

Though he asked that, until sentencing, the Kilwinning man be granted bail as happened during previous court appearances.

Sheriff Mactaggart, however, took a dim view of matters and refused this request.

He commented: “Given the quantity and value of drugs, custody is inevitable.

“It is appropriate in the week when we have heard of the increased number of drug deaths in Scotland, and with North and East Ayrshire being above the national average, the court should make it clear that custody is what follows this sort of drug deal.”

Sheriff Mactaggart then deferred sentence to a later date, for reports to be prepared, and remanded Kilmurry in custody until then.