A LINWOOD man who became a drug dealer to pay off his debts after becoming hooked on coke has turned his life around.

Glasgow Sheriff Court was told that police witnesses spotted a car with its hazard lights flashing outside The Hydro at around 8.20pm on October 7 last year. The cops carried out a computer check, which highlighted that the vehicle was not insured.

The officers followed the car to the westbound carriage of the Clydeside Expressway. At the sliproad to Whiteinch, they activated their blue lights and pulled the motor over. Mark McKenna, 31, was found behind the wheel.

After failing the roadside breath test the accused was arrested and transported to a police station where he gave a reading of 58 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit being 22mg.

Nine bags of cocaine, each worth around £20, were recovered from McKenna's car following a search.

The accused pleaded guilty to getting behind the wheel while drunk and without insurance. He also admitted having cocaine in his possession with intent to supply.

In defence, it was claimed that McKenna dabbled with cocaine but got hooked. He then became involved in the drugs scene because of his debt. The lawyer claimed the cocaine found was not for commercial distribution, but instead for the accused's friends.

After his shock arrest, McKenna "decided to get his life in order" and has since turned his life around. He is now attending therapy to tackle his addiction issues and was deemed as a low risk of reoffending.

McKenna, of Kintyre Avenue, was banned from driving for two years and had his licence endorsed. He was also fined £500.

In addition, he was sentenced to a Community Payback Order with 180 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months as a direct alternative to custody.