A man and woman from Douglas have been fined £1,000 each for importing cannabis to the island.

Karl Burton, aged 44, and Elaine Mennie, aged 43, both of Central Promenade, admitted being concerned in the production of £346-worth of the drug to the island after a parcel was intercepted at the post office.

We previously reported that police were called to the sorting office on April 24 after a report of a suspicious package.

The parcel was addressed to Burton and contained the cannabis.

Burton was arrested after arriving at the sorting office to pick up the package and when police went to the pair’s home, Mennie said: ’I already know why you’re here,’ and was also arrested.

When interviewed by police Burton admitted he had ordered the drug for personal use, saying he used it for health problems.

He said that he had bought it to split with Mennie and she had paid for half.

Mennie confirmed that story during her interview and said that she smoked cannabis for pain relief due to a physical disability.

Kate Alexander, representing Burton, said that her client was involved in a serious accident some years ago and had been using cannabis to address significant levels of pain.

Ms Alexander said that Burton had not appreciated what a serious offence production of cannabis into the island is.

The advocate asked for credit to be given for her client’s early guilty plea and that fact that it had been 30 years since his last conviction.

Winston Taylor represented Mennie and said that she had come to the island in December 2019 and had intended to return to Ireland but then Covid broke out so she felt she was safer here.

Mr Taylor said that his client had not used the drug since she had been in the island.

Magistrates also ordered them to pay £125 prosecution costs each.