A GREENOCK heroin dealer caught with the class A drug in his car pleaded with police: "Please don't tell my mum."

Jack Stoddart was out delivering to customers when officers pulled him over for a routine traffic stop because his vehicle had a defective light.

Whilst the PCs were talking to him a woman approached and declared that the 20-year-old was a 'smack dealer', the sheriff court was told.

A wrap containing brown powder was found within the centre console of Stoddart's car.

He said to the officers: "It's heroin — please don't tell my mum."

Stoddart was stopped in Greenock on the evening of January 14.

A subsequent search of his bedroom at a flat on the town's Hope Street revealed that he had more than £1,000 worth of heroin on 'open display' beside a set of electronic scales.

Prosecutor Carol Cameron said: "Officers spoke to the accused at the window of his car and at that point they became aware of a smell of cannabis.

"They detained him for a search.

"Within the centre console of the car was found a wrap of heroin.

"Officers were approached by a female who stated that the accused was a smack dealer.

"Police were told that the accused had been going to residents in the street selling drugs."

Fiscal depute Ms Cameron added: "The accused said, 'I'm just going to be honest with you, there's no point in lying, I've got an ounce of heroin in my room. I'll just take you, you'd find it anyway'.

"Police went to the accused's bedroom and on open display was a blue freezer bag containing brown powder.

"There was a set of electronic scales with brown residue on them, as well as a tube of clingfilm."

The court was told that once divided into street deals the heroin had a potential value of £1,120.

Police drugs experts estimated that the heroin would have cost Stoddart £600.

Stoddart pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supplying of heroin.

His not guilty pleas to charges of obstructing police by swallowing two wraps of heroin and cannabis possession were accepted by the Crown.

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre deferred sentence until next month for a background report.

He continued Stoddart's bail until then.

The sheriff told him: "This is a serious matter."