Two men from Douglas have been fined for possessing drugs.

Michael Brian St John Magee admitted having class ’A’ drugs, namely magic mushrooms, while Joseph Raymond Richard Pearce pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis.

A second charge, against Pearce, of possessing magic mushrooms was withdrawn.

Magee was fined £500 while Pearce was given a 12-month conditional discharge by High Bailiff Jayne Hughes.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that police went to an address at Port e Chee Avenue in Douglas, where both men were residing, on February 4 in relation to an unrelated matter.

A search of the property found a plastic bag containing a mushroom-like brown substance in the dining room.

It was later confirmed as magic mushrooms (class ’A’ drug psilocybin mushrooms) weighing 8.27 grams and valued by police at between £41 and £82.

Cannabis weighing 0.8 grams, valued by police at £24, was found in Pearce’s bedroom.

When interviewed both men gave ’no comment’ responses to all questions.

The court heard they both have no previous convictions.

Advocate James Peterson, representing Magee, handed in letters of reference for his client which he said painted a picture of an otherwise responsible and caring young man who had made a silly decision.

Mr Peterson said that Magee, who is 34, had been given the mushrooms by a friend and wanted to try them but didn’t use them as he wasn’t sure how much to take.

Self-employed decorator Magee said that he had put them away and forgot about them for several months.

Pearce, who is 20, was represented by advocate Winston Taylor who said that his client may have been deemed eligible for the Drug Arrest Referral Scheme (DARS) if he had not initially been jointly charged with the class ’A’ offence.

High Bailiff Mrs Hughes ordered both men to pay £125 prosecution costs.