A self-employed joiner who had £48,000 of amphetamine hidden in his pool table has been jailed for five years.

Paul McGowan, 40, was caught with the drug and £8000 worth of cocaine at his home at Bannockburn, Stirling after police received a tip-off.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that police visited his house on June 6 this year.

McGowan, a father-of-one, told officers there was a kilo of cocaine amongst his gym equipment and ampthetamine in the pool table, where the balls were stored.

In court McGowan, who has two previous convictions for drug offences, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and amphetamine on June 6.

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."

Advocate depute Hugh Irwin, proesecuting, said: "On June 6 Central Scotland Police received information that the accused was in possession of a large quantity of drugs at his home.

"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'."

The court heard that he took them to a gym room and pointed to a carrier bag and said: "It's a kilo of coke.”

McGowan then took officers to the game room and showed them where two kilos of amphetamine was in the compartment for the pool balls.

The court heard that the cocaine had a street value of £8000 and the amphetamine £40,000.

Defence QC John Scott said that his client was a hard-working joiner who was determined to provide for his family, but had injured his arm and was unable to work.

Mr Scott added: "Unfortunately he chose entirely the wrong way to try to provide for his wife and young baby. He describes his choice as having ripped the family apart."