Handed police a jam jar of cannabis

Conor Quinn, Berkley Court, Banbridge, was fined £200 last Thursday at the local magistrates’ court for unlawful possession of cannabis on October 16 this year. He was also ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy.

The court heard police stopped a vehicle driven by the defendant on the Commercial Road in Banbridge. They were holding a conversation with him when he handed over a the jam jar.

A solicitor representing Quinn said he was stopped at a routine checkpoint and when he was told police wanted to conduct a search he handed over the drugs.

He explained the defendant had given some people a lift the night before and they had left the drugs in the car.

The solicitor added that McCready knew the drugs were there but when he went to collect his car he forgot about them. It was his intention to get rid of them.

Imposing a fine District Judge Amanda Brady said he had two previous cautions for drugs offences.