A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 150 hours community service for cannabis possession.

Jacob William Troy Brand, of Glen Road, Colby, was caught with 8.6 grams of the drug, valued at £172.

But the offence was committed during the currency of a custodial sentence imposed at the Court of General Gaol Delivery from which Brand was released early and is not due to expire until April.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes warned Brand that she was taking no action regarding the breach but if there were any more offences before April custody would be almost inevitable.

We previously reported that police stopped an Audi on September 4 at 11.35pm on Quarterbridge Road, Douglas.

passenger

Brand was a front-seat passenger in the car and had a backpack between his legs.

He was said to have appeared nervous and a search of the backpack found a jar containing wraps of cannabis weighing a total of 8.6 grams.

When interviewed at police headquarters Brand handed in a prepared statement admitting the drug was his.

Defence advocate Louise Cooil said that following Brand’s release from custody after the sentence imposed at the higher court he had made ’significant strides in his personal life’.

Ms Cooil said that Brand was now on a college course and had worked part-time over Christmas.

The advocate said that Brand had suffered from anxiety and depression and had been referred to mental health services but had not received an appointment after five months waiting.

’At the time he was using cannabis to manage his anxiety and sleep,’ said Ms Cooil.

’He has self-referred to Motiv8 and reduced his cannabis use.’

A probation report assessed Brand as a medium risk of re-offending and low risk of harm to others.

High Bailiff Mrs Hughes also ordered him to pay £125 prosecution costs by the end of January.