Given suspended prison term for cannabis resin possession

Sergio Esteves, Oaktree Manor, Waringstown, admitted unlawful possession of a class B drug, cannabis resin, on February 11 this year.

He was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for two years and fined £150.

The court heard that police in the Garvaghy Road, Portadown, noticed two men acting suspiciously. A search was carried out and cannabis was found in the defendant’s front right pocket. Esteves admitted he had bought it for £20 for his own personal use.

A barrister representing the defendant said he understood that if continued offending in this way the court would have no option but to send him to prison.

He explained that his client had a heroin problem and was on a methadone scheme but on this occasion he was tempted into using cannabis.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said Esteves had been dealt with in a number of ways for drugs offences but none of them seemed to be a deterrent.