Paul McGowan jailed over drug stash hidden in pool table

The drugs were concealed in the pockets of McGowan's pool table

A man caught with amphetamine worth £40,000 hidden in his pool table has been jailed for five years.

Paul McGowan, 40, was found with the stash of drugs, along with £8,000 worth of cocaine, during a raid on his home in Bannockburn on 6 June.

After police arrived at the self-employed joiner's house he told officers: "I'll show you where it is."

At the High Court in Glasgow, McGowan admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and amphetamine.

The court heard that officers from Central Scotland Police swooped after being given a tip-off.

Drugs 'madness'

Advocate depute Hugh Irwin, prosecuting, said: "When police arrived his partner and baby son were in the house and McGowan arrived minutes later and said: 'I'll show you where it is'."

McGowan told them there was a kilo of cocaine in among his gym equipment and amphetamine in the pool table where the balls were stored.

Jailing him, judge Lord Bracadale said: "A large amount of drugs was recovered from your house.

"And you have two previous convictions on indictment. For you to get involved again was madness."

Lord Bracadale said that but for his early plea of guilty, McGowan would have been jailed for seven and a half years.