A former national cricket and football team member admitted to cannabis possession after being caught red-handed by Police.

Daz Simons, 20, was once a member of the under-20 soccer squad and the under-19 cricket team. He currently plays for Wolves and Cleveland County.

Prosecutor Maria Sofianos told Magistrates' Court that Simons was caught with three grams of the drug, worth $150, on Hermitage Road, Devonshire, where he lives.

The offence was committed in an area deemed to be an "increased penalty zone" in law, as it is within 300 metres of Elliott Primary School.

Ms Sofianos explained that plain-clothed Police were on patrol there in an unmarked vehicle around 10.30 p.m. on July 26, as it is known as an area where illicit drugs are sold.

The Police saw Simons involved in what she described as a "hand-to-hand" transaction with another individual. The other person escaped, but the Police spoke with Simons, who they described as "nervous and fidgeting".

He removed an item from his jacket pocket and was searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The Police found a Ziploc bag of cannabis.

A further search at Hamilton Police Station uncovered another bag of drugs in his sock and a third one in his underwear.

Simons told the Police the drugs were for his personal use. They also found $150 in his pocket, which he was unable to provide an explanation for, and they confiscated that too.

Duty defence lawyer Larry Mussenden told the court that Simons, who has no previous convictions, had been awarded his GED certificate on the morning of his court appearance.

He added: "He plays a very popular sport. He realises that drugs don't mix with sport and he's stopped using them."

Simons asked Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo to consider a punishment that does not involve a conviction that would stop him entering the United States.

"I'm sorry, " he told Mr. Tokunbo. "I never meant for anything to happen. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

He added: "I think you should spare me and not convict me.

"I want to further my education, I don't want that down on my record because I want to be able to go away.

"They're making me look like a criminal, put it that way. I'm not a criminal."

Mr. Tokunbo ordered a social inquiry report to be completed before he sentences Simons on February 10.

However, he told him he's likely to mete out an order that will preserve his clean record if he agrees to stay off drugs.

He granted Simons $1,000 bail until that date.