A Douglas man has been sentenced to community service for cocaine and cannabis possession.

Jake James Bostock, aged 20, of Alfred Teare Grove, admitted both offences as well as obstructing a drug search.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered him to do 60 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that Bostock was seen by police on August 23 at Lower Duke’s Road in Douglas while with two other men.

One of the men was banned from the island under an exclusion order so police stopped the trio.

One of the other men was carrying a backpack, which Bostock then grabbed and ran off with.

Police caught up with him and the bag was found to contain £240-worth of cocaine and £16-worth of cannabis.

When interviewed Bostock handed in a prepared statement saying that he had no involvement with the drugs and that the bag didn’t belong to him.

However, he gave no explanation for why he had grabbed the bag and fled from police.

He then answered ’no comment’ to all questions.

In court Bostock handed in a basis of plea saying that he knew there were drugs in the bag but had only thought it was cannabis and not cocaine.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood said: ’In Mr Bostock’s words, he reacted on the spur of the moment and stupidly.

’He was quickly caught up with. He should have just allowed officers to search his acquaintance and he woudn’t be here at all.’

Mr Wood went on to say that Bostock was not heavily convicted and had no drug-related convictions.

High Bailiff Mrs Hughes also ordered Bostock to pay £125 prosecution costs, which he will pay at a rate of £10 per week deducted from benefits.