£5,000 found 'stuffed in teddy'

David Rankin, of Rosses Stables, denies possessing class C drugs with intent to supply, having three replica handguns and concealing criminal property.

A Crown counsel said police also found about £3,000 inside a cooker, £2,000 in a drawer and 40 Diazepam tablets.

Mr Rankin, 44, told police the money was the proceeds of car sales.

The court heard he said he intended to use the blank guns to scare people off as he believed he was under threat and had hidden the money throughout the house to prevent it being stolen.

However, Crown counsel David Reid said police also found papers in a bathroom which appeared to indicate involvement in the supply of drugs.

Mr Reid said Mr Rankin had attempted to flush the papers down the toilet, along with blank rounds of ammunition.

The accused was refused bail in August but police said they would no longer oppose it as as long as there were strict bail conditions.

Mr Justice Stephens released Mr Rankin on his own bail of £750 along with a cash surety of £5,000 and told him to report to police three times a week.

He was also ordered to live at an address in Larne and barred from entering Ballymena except for court appearances.