A KILWINNING man jailed after being caught hoarding up to £120,000 of cocaine has had his sentence reduced.

Robert McLaughlin, 27, was last week successful in having his time in prison cut after a hearing at the Court of Appeal in Edinburgh on Wednesday, October 5.

The Times exclusively revealed in June how McLaughlin let a gang use his home in Blacklands Avenue to store 2.3kg of the Class A drug in a bid to clear crippling debts.

McLaughlin feared he would be killed if he did not let the gang use his home.

Police forced entry into the property on January 29, 2015, after noticing white powder when looking through a window. 

They were called out to investigate reports that McLaughlin was growing cannabis.

In the kitchen and living room they discovered two bags of white powder, self-seal bags containing similar powder, scales, mixing bottles, a barometer, a spoon containing powder and green herbal material.

Officers also discovered a large bag containing three clear bags of white powder. The total weight was calculated at 2,342g.

It was estimated by Kilmarnock Sheriff Court fiscal depute Mhairi Mair that the cocaine was worth between £50,000 and £120,000.

McLaughlin was traced to his aunt’s house and initially denied knowledge of the cocaine but admitted to officers that he was threatened “not to say anything”.

During police interview, he said: “They said if I don’t let them do it they’re going to break my legs.”

In addition, McLaughlin said he suspected it was cocaine but did not want to say

anything because he feared he would be killed.

Presiding Sheriff Brian Murphy immediately voiced his concerns about the amount - and whether or not it should be considered by a High Court judge.

But after taking time to consider the matter, Sheriff Murphy said: “The amount of drugs, in excess of 2,000g, leaves me with no alternative but to impose a substantial custodial sentence.

“No other sentence is appropriate due to the nature, amount and the value of the cocaine.”

McLaughlin was sentenced to four years and two months in prison backdated to May 23 when he was first remanded.

But last week, he successfully had that sentence reduced to three years.