Probation for man who obstructed drug search

20-year-old threw cannabis into a hedge

A Patrick man who obstructed a drug search by throwing his cannabis in a hedge has appeared in court.

Liam Gregory Caine, of Glen Maye Road, discarded the class B substance after being stopped by police on 29 August.

The 20-year-old was the passenger in a car which had been pulled over, on Ballachurry Road in Port Erin, due to its excessive speed.

Officers smelt cannabis and began to search the vehicle – Caine was then seen emptying a grinder on the floor of the car and rubbing his feet over the contents.

When asked why he’d done that he said: “It was just a little joint.”

Caine then walked away from the car and was seen throwing something into a nearby hedge – officers retrieved 5.5 grams of cannabis which had a street value of £110.

At Douglas Courthouse Caine admitted both offences – a probation officer told the court he’d been self-medicating with the drug daily due to self-diagnosed OCD and PTSD.

Deemster Cook instructed Caine to undertake a six-month probation order and ordered him to pay £125 in prosecution costs.