A 24-year-old man has been handed a suspended sentence after receiving more than £5,000-worth of cannabis in the post.

Jordan Quayle admitted production (importation) of cannabis to the island, possessing the drug, supplying the drug and cultivating it.

We previously reported that police were called to the Post Office sorting office on August 12 after a report of a suspicious package.

The parcel was found to contain 256 grams of cannabis, valued at £5,120.

Quayle, who lives in Farrants Park, Castletown, was arrested and a search of his home found one plant in a garage with a small tent, scales and seeds.

Further amounts of cannabis were found weighing 0.8 grams and 1.1 grams, valued at £16 and £22 respectively.

The plant was estimated to have been able to produce a potential yield of between 28 grams and 84 grams, with a value of between £560 and £1,680, though prosecuting advocate Barry Swain said that it was accepted it was a very immature plant.

Quayle told police all the drugs were his and said they were for personal use, though he also admitted he had supplied a friend on one occasion, selling them one gram for £25.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode said: ’This is a young man who has been struggling for a number of years with mental health issues. We are not dealing with someone who is using cannabis for pleasure or recreational purposes.

’He admitted all the offences in police interview and didn’t seek to put blame on anyone else or come up with excuses.

’He found cannabis would alleviate his quite severe anxiety. He has been working with the mental health team for approximately two years.’

Mr Kermode went on to say that Quayle was a father of four claiming income support and child benefit of £282 per week.

’He found the drug beneficial to him,’ said the advocate. ’You will be well aware Tynwald is considering licensing production of hemp on the island.’

A probation report assessed Quayle as a medium risk of reoffending and of harm to others.

Mr Kermode asked the court to also consider the article eight human rights of Quayle, his partner and his children.

Magistrates sentenced him to 10 months custody, suspended for two years and also made him the subject of a two-year suspended sentence supervision order.

He must also pay £125 costs which he will pay at a rate of £10 per week, deducted from benefits.

Last week, the Isle of Man Examiner revealed that since March there had been 146 cases of drugs being sent through the post.