AN ARDROSSAN man caught with £7k-worth of cannabis and thousands in cash has been jailed.

Sentencing Christopher McVey to nine months imprisonment, a sheriff branded the 41-year-old's crime a "substantial operation".

McVey, of Lawson Drive in the town, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of the class B drug and was sentenced at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday, September 2.

His solicitor told the court that he was currently not working and on disability benefit, but would be in full-time work soon.

He added: "Mr McVey injured his bicep several years ago and cannabis became too much of an interest in his life.

"He is well aware that custody is uppermost in your mind, but there is scope to deal with this through a community payback order."

However, Sheriff Murdoch McTaggart disagreed and said that custody was the only option available.

He added: "You had over £7,000 worth of cannabis and £3,000 of cash lying around the house.

"Custody is the only appropriate disposal for this quantity and value of drugs, it was a substantial operation."