An alleged boss at a building site is on trial accused of dealing drugs from the premises.

Steven McGregor is claimed to have been spoken to by police at a set of new flats in Glasgow's Carmyle on April 21 2020.

The 39-year-old is stated to have told police officers that he could lead them to "ounces of powder."

This was said to be on the condition that officers let a number of workers there referred to as "straight pegs" go.

A police officer added that McGregor, of a different address in Carmyle, also ate SIM card as there was "too much on it."

McGregor denies being concerned in the supply of cocaine at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

He also pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of intentionally obstructing police by swallowing a SIM card.

A joint minute of agreed evidence was read to jurors at the start of the trial.

Prosecutor Sean Docherty stated that police recovered from one of the flats a polythene bag containing "rock material" which was found to be 204.27 grams of cocaine.

Also discovered were scales, a roll of polythene bags, two boxes of polythene bags and a polythene bag with tape.

Detective sergeant Graham Scott, 47, told jurors that he and officers executed a search warrant for a block of flats on a building site.

The witness stated there were up to six workers on the site and McGregor was identified as being the boss.

DS Scott claimed McGregor took him and a colleague aside for a "private word."

Mr Docherty asked what happened and DS Scott replied: "He said something along the lines of if you let the rest of them go, I will tell you where the stuff is."

DS Scott stated that he then cautioned McGregor who allegedly said: "They're straight pegs...if you let them go I will tell you where it is - it's just a few ounces of powder."

The witness claimed that when McGregor found out there would be a sniffer dog on site he replied it would "find it anyway."

DS Scott stated that McGregor was put under arrest after he became aware that he ate a SIM card.

The witness told the jury: "He said: 'I couldn't let you get that, there is too much on it, I had to play the game'."

DS Scott stated that the packaging containing the drugs was removed from a pipe.

Thomas Ross KC, defending, asked DS Scott if the other men had their DNA or fingerprints taken.

He replied: "The circumstances I believed was the case at the time was that Mr McGregor made the statements that I read out which identified that it had nothing to do with them and the items were his.

"Once they were checked out, they remained in the vicinity but were allowed to leave the building."

DS Scott later stated to Mr Ross that his client gave officers a wrong description of where the drugs were.

Mr Ross asked what level of the premises was it on and DS Scott replied; "The ground area - this was not where the drugs were found."

Mr Ross said: "This is just nonsense."

DS Scott replied: "Of course it isn't."

The advocate also asked if his client admitted to being a drug dealer which DS Scott replied: "Yes."

Mr Ross put it to the witness: "This is a disaster this operation - you let three people away without taking fingerprints and DNA.

"You held someone with admissions to drugs wander about house and dispose of a SIM - that shouldn't happen."

DS Scott said: "There are points that I would agree with you."

The trial continues before Sheriff Paul Reid.