A GREENOCK drug pusher caught with nearly £2,000 worth of class A drugs in a bag hidden in his underwear has been spared a prison sentence.

Edward Joyce admitted two charges of being in possession of illegal substances with intent to supply after he was found with 30 grams of heroin and 23 grams of cocaine.

Police stopped and searched Joyce in Orchard Street and after the drugs were weighed and tested, the heroin was said to have been worth around £700, while the cocaine was valued at £1,200.

A procurator fiscal depute told the sheriff court that police were on a plain clothes mobile patrol through the town in an unmarked vehicle on July 3 when officers spotted Joyce standing at a bus stop talking with another man at around 10am.

The fiscal depute said: "Acting on intelligence, police approached the accused who immediately removed a burner phone from his pocket.

"Police identified themselves and detained Joyce for a search.

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"He was found to have a plastic bag coming from his underwear.

"Officers told him to remove it and place it on the ground, to which he agreed.

"A clear tied plastic bag containing brown powder and another with white substance were discovered."

Defence solicitor Gerry Keenan said his client has no previous convictions relating to drug offences and has a 'chance of improving his life by turning to the jobs market'.

Mr Keenan said: "No doubt this meets the threshold [for custody].

"He is acutely aware that the court will be treating this in a very serious fashion.

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"He was under the influence of pregabalin [epilepsy and anxiety medication] and was not thinking clearly in the heat of the moment and agreed to get involved.

"That was what drew him into this business enterprise that would generate for him a modest sum of money.

"It put his liberty at jeopardy."

Joyce was sentenced to a community payback order last month for separate offences having been convicted of assaulting a woman in a Greenock flat and threatening or abusive behaviour.

He admitted to snatching a mobile phone from a young child trying to make a 999 emergency call during the attack and smashing the handset off a door.

He was given 18 months of supervision and 180 hours of unpaid work and the court heard that he still has more than 140 hours left to complete.

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Sheriff Anthony McGeehan told Joyce: "It is extremely serious and extremely concerning that you were involved in the supplying of controlled drugs.

"Your explanation is no excuse and Mr Keenan is absolutely right in advising that the threshold for custody has been met.

"It would entirely be in my power to send you to custody."

Joyce, of John Wilson Street, was ordered to complete a further 120 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, reduced from 150 hours due to his guilty pleas.

He was also made subject to electronic monitoring and will be tagged for six months, requiring him to remain at his address between 7pm and 7am each night.