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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Emylie Howie

Renfrew family caught with significant drugs and cash haul in family home

A Renfrew family could be facing jail after they were caught red-handed with drugs in their home.

One man was even found with 16g of cocaine stashed in his boxer shorts during a strip-search.

James, Connor and Harris Stewart admitted their parts in the production, supply and possession of cocaine and cannabis.

That’s after the father and two sons - all of Hallidale Crescent - were found with processed drugs valued at more than £5,000, 22 hash plants valuing over £13k in their garage, and over £31,000 in cash.

Dad James, 50, admitted being involved in the production and supply of Class-B drug, cannabis, while son Connor, 29, admitted possession of Class-A drug (cocaine) and being involved in the supply of cannabis.

Twenty-five-year-old Harris admitted producing and supplying cannabis, as well as possession of cocaine worth £720 – found in his underwear during a strip-search.

Fiscal depute Jason Stark told Paisley Sheriff Court how the Stewarts’ home was raided at 7am by cops on October 22, 2020.

Following the search, over £31,000 in cash was seized, 22 hash plants with a “maximum potential value” of £13,200, as well as cannabis valuing more than £4,500 - cocaine valuing more than £800 was also recovered.

Mr Stark explained: “Police attended at the property and were granted access by Connor Stewart.

“Around 7.10am police officers strip-searched Harris Stewart and found 16g of white powder in his underwear, which later tested positive for cocaine.

“A search of the loft bedroom was carried out and items found included a set of black scales.

“In this room - which was Connor’s - a safe was found and officers observed him enter a four-digit pin. Within it was a plastic wrap containing 8.3g of white powder which later tested positive for cocaine.

“Within a dressing gown pocket, £1,780 in cash was found. Underneath the bed in a plastic bag was £20,960 in cash.”

Court heard cops searched the “middle bedroom” of the property, belonging to Harris Stewart, where £320 in cash was found in a drawer.

Mr Stark added: “A plastic box with herbal material weighing 747.5g was discovered which tested positive for cannabis.

“A further gram of herbal material was found in a tub and in a glass jar was 5.2g - a further 136.1g of herbal material was found in a bedroom cupboard.”

Mr Stark told how in the family kitchen, 17 envelopes with cash totalling £8,060 were found by cops.

After the search of the home was complete, cops searched the garage of the property where they discovered a “cannabis cultivation.”

Mr Stark explained: “Twenty-two mature cannabis plants were within the garage, as well as irrigation equipment, heaters, filters and lighting equipment.”

The value of cocaine found within the property weighed 24.3g, with Mr Stark explaining the value to be £820 - the weight of cannabis recovered was 889.8g, with a value of £5380.

The fiscal depute also explained how specialist officers tested the cannabis plants and found them to be in “good healthy condition,” each with a value of £200 to £600.

Mr Stark added: “It’s the view of the officers that the maximum potential value of the plants would be between £4,400 and £13,200.”

Defence mitigation by agents Jim Clarke and Matthew Berlow was reserved for the preparation of reports.

Sheriff Lindsay Kooner deferred sentence for the preparation of criminal justice social work reports and restriction of liberty order assessments.

All three Stewart’s had their bail continued and will return to court in July for sentencing.

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