A man caught with almost £40,000 of drug money in a shoe box and claimed the cash came from selling Boa Pythons has been jailed for more than three years.

Fingerprints on the box linked 38-year-old Ian Austin to co-accused Daniel Adams, 25, from Aberdeen, who was caught with cannabis resin worth £323,330.

Austin was jailed for three years and seven months while Adams was sentenced to four years and ten months by judge Lady Rae.

Lady Rae told the accused, who are both fathers-of-two: "This is an evil trade that you are involved in. Lives are blighted by drugs.

"You both played an important role this trade. What must your children think of you both? What sort of example are you giving to youngsters?

"I see the misery of drugs day in day out in this job and it is not a pleasant experience."

Austin, from Liverpool, and Adams admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis resin in September last year.

Adams was seen leaving a flat in Balgownie Court, Aberdeen, carrying a rucksack before giving it to Austin who drove off.

Austin's car was stopped and searched and £39,920 was found in a shoebox inside the rucksack.

During a police interview, Austin initially told police: "I breed Boa Python snakes and came from Liverpool to Aberdeen to supply a man with snakes."

He said in exchange he received the shoe box which he "assumed" contained £40,000.

Adams was caught on the M74 near Bothwell, Lanarkshire.

A large quantity of cannabis resin was discovered in the car he was a passenger in.