A Douglas man has been sentenced to community service and probation after he received £1,000 worth of cannabis in the post.

Craig Cooke, of Ballaquark, Farmhill, admitted trying to bring the drug to the island as well as possession of it.

We previously reported that a package was intercepted at the Post Office’s sorting office on February 18.

It was addressed to Cooke, who is 28, at his home address and contained 50 grams of cannabis, valued at £1,000.

Police went to his home to deliver a dummy package but he was not there so they left a missed delivery note for him.

He then went to the sorting office to collect it but was told it was out for delivery.

Cooke told post office staff he would return but he was later arrested by police. A search of his home found a further 1.6 grams of cannabis, said to be worth £32, along with scales and snap bags.

When interviewed Cooke gave ’no comment’ responses to questions.

He has a previous conviction for trafficking of class ’A’ drugs in July 2013 for which he received a custodial sentence of three years and eight months.

Defence advocate Paul Glover said that all the drugs were for Cooke’s personal use and asked for credit to be given for his guilty pleas and co-operation with probation for a report.

The report assessed him as a low risk of reoffending and of harm to the public.

Mr Glover said that since Cooke’s release from prison in 2015 he had turned his life around.

’The report says he needs guidance and assistance,’ said Mr Glover. ’He was self-medicating but has since gone down the correct route and sought help. He used the drug to relax. He is a very quiet, fairly reclusive person who smoked cannabis as a way of relaxing.’

Magistrates sentenced Cooke to 12 months probation and 120 hours of community service.

He must also pay £50 prosecution costs.