A prisoner caught with marijuana in his cell was yesterday fined $1,500.

Roger Lightbourne Jr. walked out of Magistrates' Court a free man.

Prior to his most recent offence he was in jail at Westgate Correctional Facility for assault and possession of drugs.

The 19-year-old was due to be released from prison on February 20 however officers found him with 0.27 grams of marijuana during a random search of cells last December 21.

Lightbourne, of St. David's, originally denied the offence and was held in remand while awaiting trial.

Yesterday, amid tight Police security in Magistrates' Court, he changed his plea to guilty.

"I would just like to say I am very sorry for this and like to apologise to the courts and the prisons," he said before sentencing.

"I would like for you to consider the fact I am trying to go away to school and do not want to let this stop me."

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo fined the teenager $500 for possessing the drugs and another $1,000 for having them at Westgate, an increased penalty zone.