Thomas McFadyen is also facing a proceeds of crime forfeiture over bundles of cash which were seized by police.

The 40-year-old had been indicted on a charge of being concerned in the supply of cannabis from a property in Gabriel Street.

Fourteen separate quantities of the drug — valued at a total of £1,600 — were found inside, Greenock Sheriff Court heard.

A sum of nearly £1,300 in mixed banknotes was discovered lying nearby when police pounced on 3 May last year.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher asked Sheriff Derek Hamilton to consider a non-custodial sentence, telling the court that dad-of-one McFadyen’s last conviction was in 2008.

Mr Gallagher said: “He apologises to his parents for misusing their house.

“The High Court directive is that the court must take a firm view.

“However, I would ask that the court take account of his limited record.

“Cannabis is not recognised as one of the harder substances and he has taken steps to stay away from drugs since the offence.” Sheriff Hamilton asked if there was any evidence to support a claim that the money found was part of an £1,800 ‘insurance payout’.

Prosecutor Kevin Doherty said that cheques were normally issued in such circumstances.

Mr Doherty added: “There is a photo of the condition in which the money was found.

“The police said that it looked like money that is normally found in drug searches and not like money that is handed over from a bank.” Mr Doherty made a motion for the forfeiture of two sums of money, totalling £1,120 and £170 respectively.

Sheriff Hamilton jailed McFadyen, of Regent Street, for 11 months.

He told him: “You do have a limited record but it has been made clear that people who make a conscious decision to enter the world of drug sales for financial gain can expect prison.”