A FATHER-of-two who was snared during an undercover police probe into designer drug Flakka was jailed for four years and six months.

At the High Court in Glasgow Brian Farquhar, 33, from Glasgow, admitted being concerned in supplying Flakka – which is also known as Alpha PVP - in Glasgow between October 20, 2013 and July 20, 2014.

Judge Lord Armstrong told Farquhar: “You were involved in an operation which has been described as sophisticated.

“The abuse of illicit drugs is a scourge on our society and in particular on the young people of Scotland.”

Lord Armstrong told Farquhar that, but for his guilty plea, he would have jailed him for five years.

Prosecutor Bill McVicar said: “The accused's involvement was in preparation for sale of the drug and also dealing with couriers.”

The court heard that £1,490 in cash was found in a bedroom drawer when police searched Farquhar's then home in Selvieland Road, Glasgow.

A house the accused was seen visiting in Rylees Road, Glasgow, was also searched and a quantity of Alpha PVP was found along with mixing bowls, face masks, a blender, a sieve, weights and tubs and packaging materials.

Police also observed that four couriers were in contact with Farquhar either by phone or in person.

Mr McVicar said: “Alpha PVP was widely used as a 'legal high' until 2010 when it was criminalised.

“It is used as an alternative to cocaine, amphetamine and ecstasy types of drugs.”

The court was told that the maximum street value of the drug was £80,400.

Defence counsel Allan MacLeod said: “The wholesale value would be in the region of £16,000.”

Mr MacLeod told the court that Farquhar suffers from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of an assault outside a Glasgow nightclub in which he was slashed in the face.