A HAPLESS drug dealer was caught in the act when he posted cocaine through the wrong letterbox– then asked for it back.

John McFarlane, 39, from Lane Crescent in Ayr spooked residents at Loanhill Avenue in Mauchline when a bag of the Class A substance landed on their doorstep in November last year.

It’s believed he was delivering the drugs intended for neighbours close-by.

Depute Fiscal Lindzi Bayne told Ayr Sheriff Cour t last week: “At around 3.25pm on November 18 witnesses were within their home address when they heard the accused walk into their garden and to the front door where they heard the letterbox rattle.

“They thought it was a leaflet or letter when they heard the letterbox. They found a small bag of white powder.”

The startled occupants of the home noticed a Ford Focus pace the street straight away as the dealer clearly recognised his mishap and tried to backtrack.

Ms Bayne added: “The accused came back and asked if he had posted something through the wrong door and could he have it back.”

Police were alerted who recovered 1.5 grams of cocaine from the 39-year-old worth approximately £50.

Sheriff Desmond Leslie spared McFarlane of a custodial sentence and instead fined him the sum of £400 which the court agreed to collect in instalments of £20 per month.

Sheriff Leslie told him: “You can consider yourself extremely fortunate Mr McFarlane there were no further consequences on this matter. You’ll be fined the sum of £400.”