A dealer caught in the act by undercover cops has been jailed for 22 months.
Jordan Souness Durrant Cummings, 32, was busted after police in Paisley mounted a sophisticated surveillance operation.
Cummings was snared running a heroin-dealing racket from his flat in the town’s Douglas Street.
Cops set up an observation post and used unmarked cars to document the comings and goings at his flat.
He appeared for sentencing at Paisley Sheriff Court on Friday after pleading guilty to a charge of being concerned in the supply of heroin, a Class-A substance, between August 6 and 28, last year.
Defence agent Bob Mitchell said: “He understands that becoming involved in the supply of Class-A drugs is a very serious matter and that custody will be in the forefront of your Lordship’s mind in sentencing him.
“He is a man of 32 and his record of previous convictions does him no credit.
“But he has been the carer for his father, who suffers from a heart condition, and has been in a long-term relationship with his partner.”
Mr Mitchell said Cummings was “very much at a lower level in the operation”, and acted mainly as a “street dealer” in selling the heroin in the town.
He urged the court to take into account his early plea of guilty when considering sentencing as well as “his position in the chain of supply”.
The court heard cops set up surveillance on his property to catch Cummings dealing.
They also used an unmarked car to tail and stop drivers who had visited him to buy drugs.
When cops raided the flat, they recovered more than £1,100 in cash, a number of mobile phones, including a blue Nokia - which Cummings was observed using - and a white polythene bag with the corner cut off.
Various quantities of drugs were recovered from motorists who had visited the flat.
Sheriff Bruce Erroch QC, who studied background reports before calling the case, told him: “You will appreciate this is a very serious matter for which you are here.
“You pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a Class-A drug over a period of time.
“I have heard a narration where various deals were being made involving a number of people.
“I take a serious view of such matters. And, in my view, the threshold for custody has been reached.”
He jailed Cummings for 22 months, reduced from 30 months, to take account of his plea of guilty.
Procurator fiscal depute Andrew Brown also hit Cummings with a motion under tough proceeds of crime legislation to seize the cash recovered during the bust.
A further confiscation hearing for August 30 has been set down by the court.
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