A teenager has been fined £1,000 for twice possessing cannabis.

Landscaper Kieron Kelly admitted two counts of the offence as well as one of driving when a passenger could be in danger.

Magistrates made no separate penalty for the motoring offence but endorsed the 19-year-old’s licence with three points.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court that, on February 13, police saw Kelly driving a Ford Transit van on Victoria Road in Castletown.

He had a female passenger in the rear of the vehicle but there was no seat in the rear for a passenger to use.

When police spoke to Kelly there was said to be a smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle found 45.8 grams of the drug, valued by police at £1,374.

Kelly, of Glen Mooar, Laxey, attended a voluntary interview on February 20 and told police he had bought the cannabis that day and that he bought it in bulk so it was all for personal use.

Regarding the passenger he was carrying, Kelly said he had been giving her a lift for only a short distance.

On May 20, Kelly was stopped by police while driving an Audi A3 with the vehicle again said to be smelling of cannabis.

Kelly admitted smoking the drug around an hour before he was stopped by police and a search of the car found 2.9 grams valued at £87, along with a grinder.

The court heard that he had no previous convictions.

Defence advocate Peter Taylor said: ’Regarding the motoring matter Mr Kelly maintains they were out in Castletown and a female friend was in the cold and dark so he made the poor, or noble, decision to let her jump in the back.

’It was only a short distance through the centre of Castletown.’

Talking about the cannabis offences Mr Taylor said: ’It is clear the police believe it was for his own use. The financial figures are always quite distorted in this jurisdiction.’

The advocate went on to say that Kelly said he had been using the drug to self-medicate but he had now self-referred to the Drug and Alcohol Team and Motiv8.

Magistrates fined the teenager £750 for the first cannabis offence and £250 for the second.

He must also pay £100 prosecution costs which he will pay along with the fine at a rate of £25 per week.