A drug trafficker who was caught after his bank raised concerns about the amount of money going through his account has been jailed for four years.

Ross Black, 33, was unemployed and had not paid tax or national insurance since February 2021, but was found with £709,623 in cash, bank, and saving accounts.

The former welder, formerly of Dalgety Bay in Fife, admitted to being involved in the supply of cocaine between October 2022 and October 2023.

Lord Judge Summers told Black he would have faced a six-year jail term for the offending, but reduced it to four years to take into account his guilty pleas.

Black also pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to an offence under the proceeds of crime legislation, of acquiring and having possession of criminal money on various occasions between April 2021 and October 2023.

Advocate depute Naomei Warner said Black last declared income from employment in the tax year 2019-20.

The court heard suspicions had been raised after Black opened a Monzo bank account in May 2023 and had claimed he was employed working on a production line within the manufacturing industry.

Police received information about the account in July 2023.

Warner said the two-month period saw his account turnover about £43,724.

"The report was triggered as the turnover far exceeded the bank's expectations of a person in the accused's reported line of work," the prosecutor said.

Further inquiries revealed Black also held a current account with another bank and multiple savings accounts.

The advocate depute told the court Black received a constant stream of round-figure sums from about 300 individuals.

She added when payments were made there were references to "gear", "rent" and "flights".

In July 2023 Black was found to be involved in the supply of cocaine in his local area.

A Crown Office serious organised crime unit decided to carry out a money laundering investigation into Black.

Warrants were granted to search for evidence of drugs and the proceeds of criminal offences.

Police were on their way to execute the warrants when they spotted Black driving a Nissan Juke and followed him to an address in Cardenden in Fife.

He was detained and indicated there were drugs belonging to him in the vehicle.

Officers found 17 dealer bags of cocaine worth about £1500.

Warner said the cocaine was tested and found to be of between 76% and 79% purity.

She added there were importation-quality narcotics which had not been adulterated.

The prosecutor said it was the opinion of expert drug officers that "this is demonstrative of the accused having access to, or involvement with, serious organised crime groups as access to import purity cocaine is restricted to such groups".

Police also recovered a phone which had messages about the supply of cocaine and exchange of money.

A search at Black's home address found more than £10,000 in cash.

The Crown is now seeking to recover crime profits from Black.