A man who had £2,494-worth of cannabis sent to him in the post has been sentenced to 180 hours of community service.
Connor James Perry, of Belmont Terrace, Douglas, said he had agreed to receive the package for a friend who said it was a birthday present.
High Bailiff Jayne Hughes told 22-year-old Perry: ’Your agreement to accept the package has meant somebody else has walked away scot-free.’
We previously reported that police were called to the Post Office’s sorting office on August 30 after a report of a suspicious package.
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It was addressed to ’Alex’ at Perry’s home address and was said to be smelling of cannabis.
Police opened the parcel and inside found 124.7 grams of green vegetable matter in a jiffy bag.
On September 5, a man calling himself as ’Alex Watworth’ phoned the sorting office to enquire about the whereabouts of the package.
investigations
However, investigations identified the phone being used as belonging to Perry.
He was arrested and when interviewed handed in a prepared statement denying being concerned in the production of cannabis to the island.
He was initially charged with production of the drug but that was later replaced with a charge of attempted possession with intent to supply.
Perry said that he had been asked to accept the package for a birthday present for a friend of a friend but admitted that he had suspicions about its contents.
Defence advocate Kate Alexander said: ’Mr Perry didn’t know the precise contents until he was arrested. He attempted to obtain the parcel to pass to someone else and he was to receive £50.’
suffered
Ms Alexander said that Perry suffered from ADHD, autism, and dyslexia.
’I would submit there is a lack of maturity,’ said the advocate. ’We would acknowledge he has poor thinking skills. He has learned a very difficult lesson about who he can and can’t trust.’
The advocate went on to say that her client had been struggling financially which was perhaps why he had accepted the £50 offer.
She added: ’There are elements of his personal circumstances that have perhaps made him easy pickings.’
A probation report assessed Perry as a low risk of harm to others and of reoffending.
High Bailiff Mrs Hughes said that she was sentencing Perry on the basis that he was attempting to supply the drugs to a person rather than to the community.