Drug dealer sent back to prison

Smith claimed the drugs were for his own use

A drug dealer who claimed thousands of pounds worth of cocaine was for his own use has been jailed for five years.

David Smith denied dealing drugs from a house in Dundee in April but was found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Police caught the 39-year-old with drugs potentially worth £7,000 and a set of scales.

The court heard he had a number of convictions for drugs offences, and had previously spent 30 months in prison.

Lengthy record

The judge told him his earlier sentence had not taught the former Perth prison inmate any lesson.

Lord Clarke said: "You are clearly no stranger to the courts and really have a deplorable and lengthy record of offending."

He added that the courts had repeatedly made it clear that those involved in the supply of controlled drugs which bring havoc to society could expect to face lengthy sentences.

Smith was served in court with papers in a confiscation action by the Crown seeking to strip him of crime profits.