A 21-year-old student has been sentenced to community service after admitting possession of cannabis and class ’C’ drug etizolam.

Jacob William Troy Brand was arrested with £104-worth of cannabis and 50 etizolam tablets, a drug similar to valium.

Deputy High Bailiff Chris Arrowsmith ordered him to do 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £50 prosecution costs.

As we reported in coverage of a previous court appearance, police executed a search warrant on March 3 at 8.16am at Brand’s home address in Glen Road, Colby.

Cannabis weighing 5.2 grams, valued at £104, and etizolam, valued at between £25 and £50, were found, along with drug paraphernalia.

When interviewed, Brand handed in a prepared statement saying that he had been prescribed valium by his GP but that it was not enough so he had bought more.

The valium was valued at between 50p and £1 per tablet.

The court heard that Brand was jailed in 2017 for 33 months at the Court of General Gaol Delivery for two offences of possessing cannabis, one of possessing ecstasy, supplying ecstasy and possessing it with intent to supply, and supplying cannabis.

He was also sentenced to 150 hours community service in January 2020 for possessing £172-worth of cannabis.

Defence advocate Louise Cooil handed in a letter from Brand’s father and said that the latest drug offences involved relatively small amounts.

Ms Cooil said that Brand had self-referred to Motiv8 to deal with his cannabis use after the January sentencing but assistance had begun only in March.

The advocate said that her client had completed his 150 hours of community service and now completed stopped using cannabis and prescription medication.

Brand was said to be doing a university degree in computer science at the University College Isle of Man, which he may not be able to continue if he was sent to jail.

Deputy High Bailiff Chris Arrowsmith sentenced Brand to 180 hours for the cannabis possession and 40 hours for the class ’C’ possession, to run concurrently.

He must pay the £50 costs by November 5.