A 21-year-old Douglas man has been fined £450 after admitting possession of cannabis for a fifth time.

Robert George Turner, of Ballanard Road, was only arrested with £4 worth of the drug but a magistrates court heard that this was the fifth occasion since October 2016.

The court heard how, on June 28, police searched Turner and his vehicle and found 0.2 grams of cannabis in a snap bag.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood said: ’While it is only a minuscule amount, it is the fifth occasion.’

Defence advocate David Reynolds said: ’Mr Turner tells me he fully accepted the drugs were his and as per his previous convictions he has had an issue with cannabis for some considerable time.

’He has completed all the community service he received on previous occasions.

’He has five months left on a probation order and is finding the support he is getting is beneficial. It is helping reduce his cannabis intake and hopes eventually to become drug free. Probation services have said there doesn’t appear to be an escalation and would ask for a financial penalty.’

’He paid £4 for it and it was for his own use. He has been full and frank in relation to that.’

Mr Reynolds went on to say that Turner was earning £1,270 per month but was paying a car loan and rent out of his salary.

He offered to pay any fine at a rate of £50 per month but added that if he worked any overtime he would pay more.

Chair of the magistrates Gill Eaton said that an email had been received from probation services reporting favourably on the progress Turner had been making.

’Your previous record is not good. You must bear in mind the court is running out of options so custody could be an option in future.’

Turner was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.