An American lawyer was given short shrift when he asked the court not to convict him after admitting that he imported marijuana into Bermuda for his own use.

Highly educated Leicester Bryce Stovell, from Washington D.C., said the importation and possession convictions would hinder his career, and so offered to pay a donation to charity, instead of a fine.

His lawyer Patrick Doherty asked the court to consider handing down a conditional discharge to Stovell so that he could return to his job in the US with his career in tact.

Mr. Doherty argued that, while importation and possession of any illegal drug was serious, it was not in the best interests of Bermuda or his client to convict.

He claimed Stovell used the drug for medicinal purposes, but said he did not wish to reveal details in open court and said he had been unable to receive a doctor's note in the past week.

Mr. Doherty handed Acting Senior Magistrate Tyrone Chin a copy of Stovell's CV, and said: "He did admit his wrong-doing in his statement and he did apologise to the people of Bermuda. It was for his own use. He co-operated with Police; he admitted he's guilty.

"He is an individual of impeccable character. I am asking the court to consider a conditional discharge. He would make a donation to any sort of charity in Bermuda.

"It's not the fine, it's the criminal record that would cause him great difficulty."

On Tuesday the court heard how Stovell, 47, had been inspected by Customs and narcotics officers when he arrived on the Island for a ten-day break on December 22.

Prosecutor Wayne Caines told the court that Stovell began to act nervously and sweat profusely while being asked questions by the officers.

A drug dog was brought to assist in the inspection, and a packet of marijuana plant material and a pipe were found on the lawyer, hidden in his socks.

He was then held in Police custody for 20 hours, where he admitted bringing the 8.58 grams of marijuana into Bermuda.

Stovell said he had put the drugs in his socks hours earlier in the US, and had forgotten they were there. He said he only put them in his socks because all of his other pockets were full.

Mr. Doherty said he realised the conditional discharge was an extraordinary request, but said he believed they were extraordinary circumstances.

And he even offered to show the court a receipt of money paid to a charity, if that would assist in granting the conditional discharge.

But Mr. Caines urged the Magistrate to discard the suggestion. He said it was wrong for Stovell to be treated any differently to other defendants, purely because he was lawyer.

He said: "It borders on being absurd that this man should be given a conditional discharge or community service for bringing marijuana into Bermuda.

"Unfortunately, our country takes a dim view of people bringing in narcotics to Bermuda. We have a specific way of how to deal with these matters.

"It's an anaemic argument and should not be taken into consideration."

And he said it was not in the best interests of Bermuda to let Stovell go free.

He added: "Joe average comes in off the street. He is not represented. What happens to him? He has to go through the same consequences as this court provides."

And he said it was wrong for Mr. Doherty to suggest that Stovell should be treated differently.

"We have a gentleman...we cannot suggest an absolute discharge for importing marijuana to this country, regardless of his pedigree."

Mr. Chin looked over the defendant's CV and noted that he had attended some of America's finest colleges, and had carried out much work for charity and society.

And then he asked Stovell what he had to say for himself.

The defendant admitted that he had committed an "extraordinarily foolish" thing, but said it was for self-medication.

And he said a conviction would have serious implications on his career.

But he also said he had seriously thought about working in Bermuda as a lawyer, and felt a drug conviction would hinder his chances of getting a work permit.

But Mr. Chin was not swayed and imposed a $858 fine on Stovell, and said if it was not paid on Tuesday, he would be given 40 days in prison.

He said: "Your CV is impeccable. You have done some wonderful work for charity. You have sat in a position where I am, or something like it.

"You ought to know better. If you are coming to work in Bermuda, we have to think, do we want people who would abuse Bermuda laws to work here.

"Sorry, but I have to do this."