A 35-year-old woman from Willaston has been sentenced to community service for importing cannabis to the island.

Samantha Jean Harrison, of Keppel Road, admitted production of the drug to the island as well as possession of it.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered her to do 140 hours unpaid work and pay £50 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court that police were called to the Post Office sorting office on December 4 after a report of a suspicious package.

A police sniffer dog had indicated that the package contained drugs and when opened officers found cannabis, given an Isle of Man street value of £1,171.

It was addressed to Harrison at an address in Christian Road, Douglas, and she was subsequently arrested.

A probation report said that Harrison had previously worked as a carer for the elderly but was currently suffering from anxiety and depression.

She was said to be a long-term cannabis user and had been working with the Drug and Alcohol Team since 2009.

Harrison told probation she had ordered the drug on Snapchat and paid £200.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said: ’Ms Harrison has worked most of her life as a health care assistant. She uses cannabis for anxiety and depression.

’Her record is not the worst, particularly in respect of this kind of offence.’

Mr Rodgers went on to ask for credit to be given for his client’s guilty plea.

High Bailiff Mrs Hughes sentenced Harrison to 100 hours community service for the production offence and 40 for the possession.

Mrs Hughes said: ’Cannabis is a problem on the Isle of Man at the moment, particularly it being brought to the island in the post.’

Harrison was also bound over to keep the peace for 12 months in relation to a separate incident.

She had previously been charged with common assault after an incident outside the Spar shop in Willaston on December 10, but that charge was withdrawn after she agreed to accept the binding order with a recognisance of £500.

Since the beginning of the pandemic dozens of people have appeared in court charged with importing cannabis through the post.