NEWPORT MAN CAUGHT WITH £400 OF CANNABIS IN TUB FINED IN COURT

An Isle of Wight man who was found to have just over 100g of cannabis in his possession, after Police searched his Newport home, has been fined £184. Luke Rowland, 24, of West View, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled drug of Class B when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Friday (15th December). Lauren Stone, prosecuting, told the court that officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary attended Rowland’s address in Newport on 26th September 2022 on unrelated matters. Officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis – in particular inside an outbuilding. When asked, Rowland allowed Police to conduct a search in which they found a tub with around 104g of cannabis inside it. The seized drugs had a value of around £400 the court heard. Defending, Barry Arnett told the court that Rowland had smoked for around 4 years, but that this incident was the wake-up call he needed. Rowland was fined £184 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £74 surcharge fee.