A 20-YEAR-OLD man caught with quantities of cannabis on two occasions within a month told police that he smoked it because he “suffered from his nerves”, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

Lee Kiely, of Fort Lee, Derrylin, pleaded guilty to possessing a Class B controlled drug, namely cannabis, on February 3 and again on February 17, 2016.

Kiely also entered a further guilty plea to using a motor vehicle without insurance at Chapel Road, Derrylin on February 3 this year.

The court heard that, at 2.45pm on February 3, police on patrol in the area of McDade’s Centra spoke to the defendant, who was driving a blue Vauxhall Zafira.

Suspecting that he didn’t have a driving licence, the police carried out checks that revealed Kiely to the holder of a provisional licence. Further checks confirmed that he didn’t have insurance.

After detecting a smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle, the officers conducted a search and uncovered a quantity of the Class B controlled drug.

During interview, the defendant made a full admission to the offences.

Then, on February 17, the defendant was driving a Volkwagen Golf when he was stopped at a police checkpoint at Main Street, Derrylin. He had two passengers with him in the car.

After smelling cannabis, police searched the vehicle and found three joints on the central console.

Kiely admitted that they were his and told the officers that he smoked it because he “suffered from his nerves”.

Defending solicitor, Myles McManus, told the court that, on February 3, his client would’ve been insured, but because he was not accompanied by a supervising driver, he wasn’t fulfilling his obligations as a provisional licence holder.

The solicitor said that Kiely had “complex” mental health issues and was currently a disqualified driver.

He said that the defendant was the carer for a female who had suffered “devastating injuries” in a car accident, and was still fulfilling his caring obligations.

In mitigation, Mr McManus said that the defendant had met the matters “head-on” and entered guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity.

He added that the defendant’s driving disqualification was due to end on September 29 this year.

District judge Peter King imposed fines totalling £400, a £15 offender levy and a one-month driving ban.

He also granted a destruction order for the seized drugs.