Cannabis and grinder found in car dashboard

Thirty-two-year-old Darren Booth from Broagh Village, Castledawson, was fined £200 with a £15 offender levy for possessing cannabis on March 6 this year.

Prosecution counsel said on police received a report from a member of the public about seeing the defendant sitting in the vehicle under the influence of drink or drugs.

She said as police approached, the defendant attempted to run away but was stopped by police officers.

The lawyer said police detected a strong smell of cannabis and Booth appeared intoxicated by drugs.

She said officers carried out a search of the vehicle.

Counsel told the court that they found a quantity of cannabis in the dashboard along with a grinder and metal tub on which traces of drugs were found.

Booth was arrested and later made a statement to police in which he admitted possessing the cannabis.

She added that the accused has a relevant record.

In reply to a question from District Judge Oonagh Mullan, the prosecutor said she did not have a figure for the amount of cannabis.

Judge Mullan said she would with the case by imposing a monetary penalty.

She also made an order for the destruction of the items seized by the police.

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