The manager of a cannabis collective shop was caught with £35,000 of drugs in his flat after a fire broke out in his kitchen.

Firefighters found cannabis, MDMA and cash in the living room of Nikolas Brown's home in Dundee.

A full police search uncovered more than 2.3kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of up to £35,310 and £1650 of MDMA.

Brown, 24, of Laing Street, pleaded guilty to two charges of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

He was jailed for 20 months by a sheriff who told him: "Cannabis is illegal."

Brown, runs the Dundee Cannabis Collective shop on Strathmartine Road but claimed he only sold "legal" paraphernalia and supplies.

He has previously campaigned for legalisation of the drug and says his shop offers medicinal advice.

Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court: "At 1.55pm on September 1, firefighters were called to the accused's home address after reports of a fire.

"Entry was forced and they found the kitchen on fire with a pot of meat having been left on the stove.

"Firefighters noticed cannabis and cash sitting in the open in the living room and called police.

"The accused then attended and was found in possession of a small quantity of cannabis and a grinder.

"A full search was undertaken and quantities of cannabis were found throughout the property, as well as a quantity of MDMA and £9865 in cash.

"There was also paraphernalia such as self-sealing bags and four sets of scales.

"There was a total of 2354g of cannabis found, with a value ranging from £10,000 wholesale to £35,310 if sub-divided into street deals.

"The MDMA was 34g valued at up to £1650 in street deals."

Defence solicitor Sarah Murray said: "He is a young man who is a frequent user of cannabis - it is part of his everyday life.

"He is now paying a price for that. He knows any views he may have about the legality of cannabis have no place in this court."

Sheriff Alastair Brown said: "This was not a typical commercial operation - but it was a commercial operation.

"Those who are concerned in the supply of any controlled drug must understand that the courts will treat their offences very seriously."