Man fined over £1,700 cannabis haul
A drug user who had £1,770 worth of cannabis on him when stopped by police has been fined.
Barry Lloyd, 21, was searched by police at his home in Guilsfield, near Welshpool, after officers received a call.
Lloyd, who admitted a charge of being in possession of 177g of the Class B drug, was fined £150 at Welshpool Magistrates Court yesterday.
He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Mr Justin Espie, prosecuting, said officers visited Lloyd at his home in Rhoslan, Guilsfield, on March 3.
He said: "The officers could smell cannabis, searched the defendant and found a large quantity of it on him.
"The amount was later verified as 177g which has a street value of £1,770.
"The decision was taken to charge with possession as he told officers he had bought in bulk for his own supply."
Miss Ceri Edwards, for Lloyd, said her client had fallen into a drugs habit earlier this year, but he had now managed to stop thanks to fundraising work.
She said: "Earlier this year, my client had not got a job and he was lonely as all his friends were working.
"He started using cannabis and it got to the situation he finds himself in now.
"His arrest and this first appearance ever in a court has been a real wake-up call for him.
"He had now kicked his habit, joined a gym and is carrying out fundraising fitness challenges. He plans to take part in the Newtown triathlon to raise money for Cancer Research.
"He bought it in bulk for his own use as it was cheaper that way."
Magistrates also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.
