A 23-year-old man from Ramsey who ordered cannabis online has been put on probation for two years.

Reece Nathan Evans, of Park Ollay, admitted production (importation) of the drug to the island and was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.

We previously reported that a package was intercepted at the Post Office sorting office in Braddan on March 11.

It was found to contain 86.6 grams of cannabis bush, valued at £2,598, and 28.3 grams of cannabis resin, said to have a street value of £161.

The package was not addressed to Evans but when police spoke to the addressee she said that Evans had ordered it via a person he played games online with.

When interviewed by police Evans admitted he had ordered the cannabis and said he had paid £650 for it. He said that he suffered from insomnia and had mental health issues, but Isle of Man prices were so high he decided to risk ordering it, though he had not wanted to use his own name and address.

The court heard that he has a previous caution for a production-related offence.

Defence advocate Sara-Jayne Dodge handed in letters of reference for her client.

Ms Dodge referred to a probation report which detailed personal trauma Evans had been through which she said she would not go into in open court.

’Mr Evans is a reliable worker. He can keep his job if he does not go to custody,’ said the advocate.

’He is also a carer for his mother and supports the family financially.’

Ms Dodge urged the court to follow the recommendation of a probation report which suggested the probation order as an appropriate sentence.

The report assessed Evans as a low risk of reoffending and said that he had no previous convictions.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told Evans that the probation order could be discharged early if good progress was made.

He will pay the prosecution costs at a rate of £20 per week.