Two men who picked up a package containing cannabis from a field in Pulrose have appeared in court.

Jake Christopher Corrin, aged 24, of Riverside Court, Douglas, admitted two counts of possession of the drug and was fined £250 plus £100 prosecution costs.

Declan McBurnie, aged 19, of Anagh Coar Road, Douglas, admitted possession of cannabis and was committed to the Court of General Gaol Delivery for sentencing.

Charges of production (importation) of the drug to the island and possession with intent to supply against both men were withdrawn.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court how a parcel was delivered in the post to an address in Clifton Terrace in Douglas on October 21 at 10.30am.

It was address to ’J Robertson’ and was received by an unidentified man who met the postman in the foyer of the building.

At 11.35am Corrin and McBurnie were seen walking on Groves Road in Pulrose.

They walked onto playing fields to a rough grassy area and then emerged with the package.

Both men were said to have handled it but McBurnie then left with it.

He was later arrested and 215 grams of the drug, valued at £4,300 was found at his home.

Corrin was also arrested and police found a total of 7.8 grams of cannabis at his house, valued at £156, as well as £405 in cash.

Police went to the grassy area where the pair had been seen picking up the parcel and an empty box was found with vacuum-packed bags.

When interviewed Corrin said the cannabis found at his address was for personal use and the £405 was benefits he had saved.

McBurnie answered ’no comment’ to all questions during his interview.

A probation report on Corrin said that he used the drug for anxiety and described himself as an ’occasional user’, who had used cannabis since he was 16.

However, Corrin told probation he had researched the drug and found that it could increase anxiety so he wanted to do something about his cannabis use.

Advocate Stephen Wood, representing Corrin, said that his client had spent seven days in custody in relation to a charge which had not been proceeded with.

’Clearly he needs to nip cannabis in the bud so to speak,’ said the advocate.

Corrin will pay his fine and costs at a rate of £10 per week.

Deputy High Bailiff Chris Arrowsmith declined jurisdiction for McBurnie’s case, due to the amount of cannabis found in his possession, and ordered that a probation report be prepared before sentencing at the higher court on December 11.

No bail application was made and he is remanded in custody.