Magistrates? Court was ridden with numerous drug-related offences yesterday.

Gladwin Hill, 32, from Woodlawn Road in Sandys pleaded guilty to possession of 0.53 grams of cannabis on August 14, 2004 in the Horseshoe Bay area.

Crown Counsel, Anthony Blackman told the court that Hill had been stopped in a vehicle check by Police who searched the vehicle and found two hand-rolled cigarettes containing cannabis.

The father of three was fined $1,000 by Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King.

Kevin Smith, 23, from Cedar Hill in Warwick, pleaded guilty to possession of 0.15 grams of cannabis in Par-la-Ville Park on August 20, 2004.

Mr. Blackman told the court that Smith had been approached by Police Officers after smelling the odour of cannabis emanating from him.

They found a lit cigarette, containing the cannabis, behind him and arrested and charged him.

?I?m sorry for smoking in a public place,? Smith told the court.

He was fined $1,000, as well as an additional $1,000 increased penalty zone penalty and has until April 30 to pay the fine.

Neville Hassell from Rock Valley in Warwick pleaded guilty to being in possession of 0.56 grams of cannabis on October 5, 2004 in Pembroke.

Mr. Blackman told the court that Hassell, a petrol attendant, had been stopped and searched by Police who found the cannabis inside a cigarette holder.

Hassell told Mr. King that he had given his cigarette holder to a friend who was going to a football game and when it was returned to him, he never looked inside before being stopped by Police.

Mr. King fined him $1,000.

Nathaniel Washington, 25, from Pembroke, pleaded not guilty to allegedly being in possession of cannabis and cocaine on August 16, 2004 in St. Monica?s Road.

Mr. Blackman told the court that Washington had been stopped and searched by Police less than 300 meters from Beyond This, an alternative school in Pembroke, which is an increased penalty zone.

Washington will return to court for trial on April 5, 2005 and was released on $1,000 bail with one surety.