A Castletown man has been sentenced to 240 hours’ community service for four drug offences.

Alex James Taylor, of Malew Street,admitted two counts of possessing cannabis with intent to supply, entering into a money laundering arrangement to the value of £1,650, and possessing criminal property of £1,120 in cash.

The community service must be completed within 12 months and is a direct alternative to 15 months’ custody.

Taylor was also ordered to pay £500 prosecution costs.

We previously reported how, on March 23, 21-year-old Taylor asked another man to post a package for him.

The package contained £1,650 in bank notes but the man posting it was said to be unaware of the contents.

However, the package was intercepted by police at the Isle of Man Post Office and seized.

The following day, Taylor phoned the post office several times to inquire why his package had not arrived at its UK destination.

A search warrant was executed at Taylor’s home and several wraps of cannabis bush were found in a bedroom, weighing a total of 18.8 grams, valued at £376.

Two bars of cannabis resin were found weighing a total of 201 grams, said to be worth £1,063.29 as well as cash totalling £1,350.

Scales and a tick list were also found.

Taylor made no comment during a police interview.

A basis of plea was entered by Taylor in which he said that the money found was not his, but belonged to a third party. However, he admitted he was aware it was the proceeds of crime and that he had been allowed to smoke a small amount of cannabis in payment.

The court heard that Taylor had no previous convictions.

Defence advocate Darren Taubitz said: ’He is an extremely naive 21-year-old. He has denied any financial incentives invovled in the offences, he says he retained a small amount of cannabis. He is someone who smoked cannabis and was perhaps mixing with the wrong group of people. There was no luxury lifestyle. He has told me he has cut off contact with many of his peer group.’

A probation report also described Taylor as ’somewhat naive’ and recommended community service or a suspended sentence, but said that he had struggled with the concept of their being victims in relation to drug trafficking.

Deemster Alistair Montgomerie said: ’He needs to cut off his involvement with drugs. If you take drugs you’re going to mix with the wrong people.

’The trouble is you don’t see any victim unlike an assault where you see a black eye or broken nose. The message is not getting through if the young men and women who appear in front of me are anything to go by.’