A man who was caught with cannabis after police attended his home because he had no MOT on his car has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
The district judge warned the 30-year-old: “If you continue to break the law in this same fashion you will lose your liberty.”
Radislaw Dlugosz, of Wellington Street, Lurgan pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug and having no vehicle test certificate at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Court heard that on March 4, police observed the defendant driving a grey Mazda on Wellington Street in Lurgan before exiting the car and entering his home.
Checks on the vehicle showed that its MOT had expired in January.
Officers called at Dlugosz’s address where he made admissions to not having a test certificate for the car.
Police detected a smell of cannabis from the property and questioned the defendant about this.
Dlugosz became nervous and claimed that maybe one of his friends had been smoking in his home.
The defendant was arrested at 6.30pm.
A search of his person and the property was carried out, during which a small amount of cannabis was found in the kitchen.
When interviewed, Dlugosz made full admissions to the offences.
Defence solicitor John McAtamney stated: “He made full and frank admissions in interview.
“He was detected for having no vehicle test certificate and this is normally dealt with by way of a monetary penalty but given his record, a pre-sentence report was requested.”
It was heard the defendant was seen by probation as being at a low risk of reoffending.
Mr McAtamney said: “This man has been in Northern Ireland for 10 years and has a limited record except for 2006.”
District Judge Bernie Kelly commented: “Limited but for the abuse of all substances.”
She stated: “According to the pre-sentence report Mr Dlugosz does not see his use of cannabis as problematic.
“It is illegal and despite him being sentenced to a probation order in 2006 he has failed to be rehabilitated.”
District Judge Kelly told the defendant: “If you continue to break the law in this same fashion you will lose your liberty.”
Dlugosz was sentenced to two months in prison suspended for two years for the drugs offence.
For having no MOT, he was ordered to pay a fine of £75, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within six weeks.
A destruction order was made for the seized drugs and paraphernalia.
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