Jack Leake had faced a minimum seven-year jail term for his third similar drugs offence. But a judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh that he was satisfied he could depart from the minimum sentence and impose a lesser term because of the value of the drugs.

In November police visited 36-year-old Leake's house in Hay Drive acting on confidential information that he was involved in the supply of heroin in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh. A bag containing heroin was recovered with an estimated street value of £900.

Advocate depute Leanne Cross said officers also found £1000 in a suit pocket at the house.

During an interview Leake at first claimed he had forgotten about the money but then said he got it as a "donkey" – a person who collects and delivers drugs.

Defence solicitor advocate John Keenan said Leake had had a drug problem for more than ten years.

He had run up a drug debt and acted as a courier to pay it off.

Leake admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug between November 13 and December 4 last year.