A 28-year-old who bought cannabis online for him and his grandmother to use has been sentenced to community service.

Matthew Edwin James Wagstaffe, of Brisbane Street, Douglas, admitted the production (importation) charge and was ordered by High Bailiff Jayne Hughes to do 100 hours unpaid work.

We previously reported that police were called to the Post Office sorting office on July 8 last year after a report of a suspicious package.

The parcel, which was addressed to Wagstaffe, was opened and found to contain 27.7 grams of green vegetable matter, later confirmed as cannabis bush and given a street value by police of £554.

Wagstaffe attended a voluntary police interview on July 16 and admitted he had bought the cannabis online.

He said that he planned to use the drug with his grandmother.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said: ’Mr Wagstaffe openly admitted producing cannabis. He paid a relatively low sum compared to the street value stated.

’It was an experimental thing. He was hoping it would help his grandma. She had been using CBD for some time but it had lost its benefits.’

Mr Rodgers said that the case had taken a year to come to court as it appeared a summons was served at his client’s previous address.

’He is a hardworking man and did this with the best intentions,’ said the advocate.

A probation report assessed Wagstaffe as a low risk of reoffending and of harm to the public and recommended community service as a suitable sentence.

High Bailiff Mrs Hughes said that she accepted that Wagstaffe had no intention to supply the drug onwardly, other than in his own home and that he had not paid the street value stated for it.

He was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs by July 27.