A man who was sent £598-worth of cannabis in the post has been sentenced to 140 hours’ community service.

Alexander George Wiseman, of St Runius Way, Glen Vine, said he was told to collect the package and he thought it was a ’gift’.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told Wiseman: ’Your explanation is somewhat convoluted. It is difficult to see why you think that someone would send you cannabis as a gift through the post.’

The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to attempted possession of cannabis, being concerned in the production of (importing) the drug to the island, and possession of cannabis.

Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court that police were called to sorting office on July 3 after a report of a suspicious package addressed to Wiseman at an address in Woodbourne Road, Douglas where he was residing.

When opened it was found to contain 29.9 grams of cannabis.

Wiseman was later arrested at the address and a search of the property found a further 1.1 grams of the drug, valued at £22.

At police headquarters, during an interview, Wiseman said he had been approached by an old acquaintance and given tracking details for a package. He admitted he was aware it would contain cannabis but said he had not made any payment for it, claiming he thought it may be a ’gift’.

Wiseman admitted he was a regular user of the drug and said that the contents of the package would have been for personal use only.

The court heard that he has no convictions since 2006 when he was jailed for six months for possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

A probation report recommended community service as a suitable sentence.

Wiseman told probation that he felt he had no choice but to collect the package.

Prosecutor Ms Braidwood said: ’It does seem a bit bizarre, somebody was giving him cannabis but there doesn’t seem to be any account that he was passing it on.’

Defence advocate James Peterson said: ’He appreciates he shouldn’t have got involved and feels an idiot.’

Wiseman was sentenced to 100 hours community service for attemped possession of the drug and being concerned in the production of it, and 40 hours for possession, to run consecutively.

He was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.

He will pay the costs at a rate of £25 per week.