A man from Union Mills has been fined £1,000 by Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes after admitting driving while he was under the influence of cannabis.

Thomas Edward Firth, of Lhergy Cripperty, was also disqualified for 18 months and fined a further £500 for possession of the drug - £250 for each of two counts of possession.

We previously reported how, at 12.12am on November 1, police saw Firth driving a Hyundai on Peel Road in Douglas. They tried to catch him but were unable to do so as they saw him cut across a roundabout heading into Douglas.

Firth, aged 22, was found stopped at the Ellan Vannin Fuels garage in Peel Road and was said to have glazed eyes, slurred speech and his movements were said to be laboured.

He was smelling of cannabis and a search resulted in spliffs being found..

A roadside breathalyser test was found to be negative but Firth was detained on suspicion of being under the influence of cannabis.

A medical examination later deemed him unfit to be driving with a blood test producing a reading of three and a half times over the UK legal limit for cannabis.

More cannabis was found in a search at his home address and in total 12 grams of the drug was found said to be worth £63.

Firth entered a basis of plea accepting he had exceeded the speed limit but said he had not gone over 50mph.

He also accepted driving across the roundabout but said he had checked if the road was clear.

Defending Firth in court advocate Ian Kermode said that his client had used cannabis the previous day and had not appreciated he wasn’t fit to drive.

Mr Kermode said: ’In the weeks prior to the offences Mr Firth was feeling very stressed regarding a number of personal matters.

’He accepts he was using cannabis inappropriately as a coping mechanism. It was a relatively small amount for personal use. He admitted in police interview speeding and that all the cannabis was his.’

Mr Kermode went on to quote a letter handed into the court written by Firth in which he said: ’I’m tremendously relieved that no-one was injured or property damaged by the foolishness of my actions.’

The advocate continued: ’For the last five months he has been very anxious and stressed about this case and what could happen. That said, every cloud has a silver lining and there are positives. Firstly he is now free from drugs and has changed his circle of friends. He has attended Motiv8 for at least six sessions.’

Mr Kermode added Firth was shortly going to take over the helm of his family’s confectionary business. Firth must pay £125 costs.