A 26-year-old Onchan man has been sentenced to community service and probation after admitting having valium sent to him in the post.

Paul James Beattie, of Harbour Road, admitted production of 209 diazepam tablets to the island as well as possession of £204 worth of cannabis.

We previously reported that police were called to the Post Office’s sorting office at Spring Valley Industrial Estate on December 12.

A suspicious package was found to contain small blue pills later identified as diazepam.

The package was addressed to Beattie at his Harbour Road address.

On December 24, a second similar package also addressed to Beattie was intercepted at the sorting office and found to contain more diazepam.

A search warrant was executed at Beattie’s home and 10.2 grams of cannabis was found in a bedroom.

When interviewed, he told police the pills had been ordered from a friend in the UK and that he would pay by sending money to him.

Beattie said that when the first package had not arrived he had called his friend who had then sent the second package.

Defence advocate David Reynolds asked for credit to be given for his client’s co-operation with the police and his guilty pleas.

Mr Reynolds said: ’As a result of his actions, his children seen him being arrested - something he doesn’t want to happen again.

’Mr Beattie tells me, having worked in the building profession for a number of years, he suffers from back pain.

’He had been prescribed diazepam years earlier by his GP. But when told he wasn’t going to be prescribed it again he asked a friend in the UK for it.

’He tells me he has been a regular user of cannabis. He uses it to help him relax but he knows if he carries on in this vain he is going to be in and out of prison.

’He was arrested on New Year’s Day at his parents’ house with his children, something that is going to take him significant time to repair the damage of.’

The advocate went on to say that Beattie had now changed employment and should no longer need any form of pain relief.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told Beattie: ’All of your offending relates to possession, supply and production of class B or C drugs, Class C on this occasion. I accept the diazepam was intended to be used for your back pain but you shouldn’t have arranged for its production from the UK. You didn’t know what would be in those packages. You should have gone to your GP.’

Beattie was sentenced to 100 hours community service and 12 months probation.

He must also pay £125 prosecution costs.