A Dundee drug dealer who tried to pin the blame on his sister when he was caught with more than £16,000 cash hidden in a secret vault has been jailed for 27 months.
Steven Towers, 27, had hidden some money under a duvet in a child’s bedroom, but the main haul was secreted under the floorboards among the house foundations.
He admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis and cocaine after officers raided his sister’s home in Mains Drive, Dundee, on May 31.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard officers carried out a search after initially finding Towers with £885.
Depute fiscal Charmaine Gilmartin said: “Officers found bags of powder underneath a duvet in a child’s bedroom.
“This was later tested and was found to be cocaine.
“Floorboards of the property were lifted and a vast open space was discovered underneath.
“Police climbed down and found two plastic bags containing a substantial amount of money, totalling £16,810. Various other evidence was found including tick lists and a shoe box with the accused’s fingerprints on it, containing cocaine.”
A total of 23.7g of cocaine valued at £2,300 was found in the property while cannabis valued at £110 was also found.
The court heard Towers had sent texts to his sister offering her money to dispose of the drugs and other evidence, including a set of scales.
However, when cautioned and charged, he told officers the drugs belonged to his sister but his DNA was found all over the drugs.
Towers, of Dundonald Street, Dundee, later claimed the cash was for a deposit for a pet dog and money for a holiday.
Towers admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis and cocaine.
He also admitted trying to pervert the court of justice.
Sheriff Thomas Hughes told Towers: “The court cannot condone that in any form and you tried to cover it up and get someone else to take the blame for you so a custodial sentence is inevitable.”
