A plasterer has been jailed for 20 months after his recreational cannabis use led him into the murky world of drug trafficking.

James Anthony McKenzie, 28, of Lambhill, Bride, admitted multiple drugs and motoring offences as well as two counts of money laundering and possession of an offensive weapon - an axe.

When McKenzie was spotted swerving all over the road on the Ramsey to Laxey coast road on June 16 this year, an officer tried to flag him down near Dhoon Glen.

Police closed the southbound lane but he drove against the flow of traffic, forcing other drivers to take evasive action.

A witness reported seeing him driving at 60mph in a 50mph zone.

McKenzie was later found parked at Glen View flats car park in Laxey where he was found in possession of cannabis and £650 in cash.

A search of his Citroen found an axe under the driver’s seat.

When interviewed he handed in a prepared statement denying driving dangerously and saying that he used the axe to chop wood and for work as he was a plasterer.

The cannabis found was said to be in two packages weighing 81.8 grams and 82.2 grams, with a street value of £3,280.

Packages

McKenzie was already on police bail for other drugs and money laundering offences, having been stopped in his van in Sulby on April 17.

On that occasion, there was a strong smell of cannabis in the van and police suspected him of driving while unfit through drugs. In total £8,225 in cash was found.

The bedroom of his home was searched where more cannabis was found in wooden boxes on shelves.

During police interview, McKenzie maintained that the cannabis was for his own personal use and he had earned the money as a plasterer.

Investigation of his mobile phone, however, revealed that he was involved in the supply of cannabis.

McKenzie admitted nine offences - being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession of the class B drug, dangerous driving, failing to stop for a police officer, having no car tax, possession of a class B drug with intent to supply, possession of an offensive weapon and two counts of possessing criminal property.

He also asked for a further offence of cannabis possession to be taken into consideration.

Embroiled

Defence advocate David Clegg said his client had started out as a recreational cannabis user but had then become embroiled in the world of class B drugs.

He said McKenzie, who has a four-year-old son, had no previous similar convictions and the five months he had spent on remand was his first experience of custody.

Deemster Alastair Montgomerie said a ’vast number’ of young people with good jobs and no previous convictions were being ’dragged into that murky drugs world’.

Jailing him for a total of 20 months, Deemster Alastair Montgomerie told him: ’If you go back to taking drugs then the future I’m afraid looks black because undoubtedly you will get sucked back in.’