Recreational drug use ended in a 46-year-old restaurateur becoming a dealer, Campbeltown Sheriff Court was told.
Gordon McNeill, of Cara View, Tayinloan, had admitted being concerned in the supplying of cocaine, a class A drug, at the Number 42 restaurant on July 12 this year.
Police officers had entered the premises on Main Street, Campbeltown, by the side door, looking for another person in a non-related matter and went into the office.
"On open display they observed scales, loose cash, white powder and snap bags," Raeesa Ahmed, procurator fiscal depute told the court at its November sitting where Sheriff Euan Cameron ordered pre-sentencing reports be prepared on McNeill.
The powder was confirmed to be cocaine, 56 grammes in total, with a street value of £2,400.
At the December sitting the court was told by McNeill’s defence agent John B McGeechan: "He was involved in recreational drug use and it became a disaster."
McNeill had incurred drug debts and started to deal.
He added that McNeill had lost a significant amount of money in his business and also suffered from ill health.
"I am aware of the medical difficulties he had experienced," said Sheriff Cameron, who placed McNeill on a restriction of liberty order for eight months.
He warned McNeill: "If you come to this court again you will almost certainly be going to prison."
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