A man caught with£10 worth of cannabis has been fined £300.
The 23-year-old’s legal representative told court the defendant was subject to a probation order and was seeking help for his addiction problems.
Barry Kevin Morgan, of Shanock Close, Coalisland, pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
District Judge Bernie Kelly remarked “oh dear” upon seeing the defendant’s record.
Court heard that on March 15, at 9.20pm, police spotted a Vauxhall Insignia in the Garvaghy Road area of Portadown.
The vehicle was pulled over and officers detected a smell of cannabis.
Morgan, who had been a back seat passenger, handed police one gram of herbal cannabis inside a grinder when he was informed a search would be conducted.
When interviewed, the defendant admitted to possession, he said it was for his own personal and was worth about £10, enough for two joints.
Defence counsel stated: “He has no previous convictions for drugs, he is currently undertaking a probation order through which he is to begin to seek help for addiction problems.”
Morgan was ordered to pay a fine of £300, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 10 weeks.
