AN EX Army man from Helensburgh claimed he needed regular cocaine to combat PTSD - and divided a large haul of the drug into deal sizes to avoid taking too much.

William Campbell, 31, pleaded guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week to possession of cocaine with intent to supply at a property in Buchanan Road, Helensburgh, on March 28 this year.

Police obtained a search warrant for the home and forced entry around 5.15pm just as Campbell returned to the flat.

A systematic search found 14 clear bags with powder that tested positive for cocaine.

Fiscal depute David McDonald said Campbell admitted that the drugs belonged to him, but denied there was any intention to supply.

He said that as a former soldier, “he had seen active service and was suffering severe PTSD” and was dependent on the drug.

Campbell claimed the amount would last him four days to a week and was kept in individual bags “to ration them for himself and prevent him from using too much in one time”.

Campbell had hidden the drugs in his property to prevent children, who visited once a fortnight, from seeing.

One of the bags tested as having 63 per cent purity - sufficient to net £1,400 if sold on.

Defence solicitor Kenny Clark told the court Campbell recognised he would have to be jailed because of a previous convictions and spell in prison.

Campbell, he said, served 12 years in the army and was discharged in 2003.

He had an alcohol problem when he left the army and that was replaced by cannabis, amphetamines and then cocaine.

Mr Clark said: “He has some ongoing issues with PTSD but doesn’t seek to use those as an explanation.

“When working, he is able to reduce and function at a normal level.

“He had £500 and had the opportunity to buy [the drugs] in bulk. He shared with friends when they came around.

"There was no commercial supply - no money would change hands. His record is not long, but significant.”

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: “Sharing with friends is still supply.”

He sentenced Campbell to 20 months in prison, backdated to March 29 and added: “I’m sure Mr Clark will advise what will happen if there’s a third offence.”