A 44-year-old Douglas woman has been fined £500 for possessing one gram of cannabis.

Kelly Elaine Thompson admitted the offence and was also ordered by magistrates to pay £50 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that police were at Thompson’s address in Demesne Road on another matter on January 21.

A search of the property found the cannabis, valued by police at £30, which Thompson admitted she had intended to smoke.

Mr Swain said that these types of cases ’occasionally bring sensational headlines’ due to the small amounts but as the defendant had previous convictions for similar offences there had been no alternative than to bring it to court.

Defence advocate Kate Alexander asked for credit to be given for her client’s guilty plea and co-operation with police.

’She directed them to the cannabis,’ said the advocate. ’It’s difficult to see how she could have been more co-operative.’

Ms Alexander also asked the court to take into account that the offence was from January.

Magistrates ordered Thompson to pay the fine and costs at a rate of £10 per week deducted from benefits.