A MAN who lost his job during the pandemic turned to selling cannabis "to make some money".

Richard Duffy was left struggling when he was made redundant and, Glasgow Sheriff Court heard, tarnished a clean record by becoming involved in drugs.

The 28-year-old was caught by cops when he and another man were spotted dragging cardboard boxes across the ground on Kennishead Avenue in Thornliebank.

The court heard that on March 23, 2021, two police officers were on mobile patrol in Pollok.

Around 9pm they spotted two men coming out of 50 Kennishead Avenue pulling along the ground two large cardboard boxes towards a van.

The officers asked about the boxes but neither would give an explanation as to what was in them.

Cops then carried out a search of a number of boxes in the rear of the van.

A large clear bag of a herbal substance was discovered, which tested positive for cannabis.

It weighed 484.5g.

Duffy’s lawyer Ron Mackenna said he was appearing in court for the first time, having previously had a clean criminal record.

The brief said: “He knows it is a serious matter.

“This is a man who had been working until covid.

“He was put on furlough and then when furlough ended he was unemployed.

“He was struggling financially and took the opportunity to make some money.”

Sheriff Bernard Ablett placed Duffy, of Thornliebank, on a structured deferred sentence and told him he must appear at court again in four months for a review hearing.

The sheriff said: “It will be in your interests to fully engage with the social workers department.”