A PRESTONPANS drug dealer caught with £3,000 worth of heroin is facing a jail sentence.

Derek Robertson was stopped by police while he was driving his red BMW and was found to have wraps of the Class A drug hidden in the vehicle’s glove compartment.

Robertson, of North Grange Avenue, then allowed officers to search his home, where they discovered a further quantity of the drug within his bedroom.

Last week, the 31-year-old was told “prison is very much on the cards” when he pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to supplying the drug The court was told that police officers received intelligence that “a red BMW was concerned in the supply of drugs” in the Prestonpans area.

The vehicle was then traced at the town’s Appin Drive and Robertson, the sole occupant, was detained and the car searched.

Fiscal depute Roseanne Chapman said: “Ten wraps of brown powder and a further 12 wraps in the glove box were found.

“There were two mobile phones and £95 in cash on the passenger seat and a further £110 in a compartment under the steering wheel.

“The accused was then asked for permission to search his home and he agreed. They searched the premises and found a larger bag of diamorphine.”

Ms Chapman added that, along with thousands of pounds of heroin found at the house, officers also discovered affiliated equipment such as cash, scales, bags and gloves.

In total, police recovered 83 grams of heroin from Robertson’s car and home, worth about £3,000, along with £2,880 in cash.

Angela Craig, defending, said her client had “no objection” to any forfeiture the Crown would be seeking for the cash and added that Robertson had “a significant drug problem at the time”.

Sheriff Frank Crowe said: “This is a very serious matter and the evidence seems to suggest you were dealing on a wholesale basis, but I will get reports and restriction of liberty assessment and will continue your bail.

“But I must say prison is very much on the cards for this level of dealing.”

Sentence was deferred to next month for the preparation of reports and a restriction of liberty assessment and he was released on bail.

Robertson admitted to being concerned in the supply of heroin at Appin Drive and North Grange Avenue, Prestonpans, between October 16 and 19 last year.