A 21-year-old man, appearing at Fermanagh Magistrates’ Court, has been found guilty of possessing a Class B drug.

The court heard that on May 11, 2018 police were called to a property in Tamlaght.

At the the property there was a male present who was identified as the defendant,Tyler James Williams of Bayview Close, Tamlaght. Police carried out a search of the house during which the defendant handed over a bag which contained herbal cannabis. During the search of the house further items were discovered containing herbal cannabis. Williams was interviewed and admitted that the drugs were his and said it was for his own personal use.

A defence solicitor for Williams told the court that his client had cooperated fully with police and had made a full admission. He said his client made no attempt to hide the drugs and that he could have denied there were his but did not.

He said Williams lives alone and has depression, anxiety and ADHD. He continued that his client was using the cannabis as self medication to treat his ADHD.

Williams’ solicitor told the court how a previous sentence for a similar offence had a significant impact on his client’s thinking and he has had some trepidation about today and asked on a number of occasions if he was going to go to prison. This sent out a strong and significant message that these offences can have consequences.

In passing judgement, District Judge Michael Ranahan told Williams that he “will have to learn to stay away from drugs”. He warned the defendant that he was building a record with drugs.

Judge Ranahan fined Williams £360, which was three times the value of the drugs found, and told him he was lucky as it could have been more.