A Warwick man who claimed to have started taking drugs to cope with multiple deaths in his family admitted to heroin possession.

Colin Simons, of Marl Lane, was charged with having in his possession the controlled drug heroin and two pieces of stone and a razor blade fitted in connection with preparation of the drug.

The Court heard from Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney that Police officers were on mobile patrol conducting stop and searches in Sandys on June 12.

Officers received information about a car with the smell of cannabis coming from inside at a nearby parking lot.

When they arrived, the defendant was inside in car.

Officers asked him if he had anything illegal on him and he said no but during a search, they found a white napkin in his pants pocket containing a small plastic twist with a brown powder substance, two pieces of stone and a razor blade.

The 50-year-old was arrested and the substance was analysed and turned out to be 0.03 grams of heroin. The stones and razor tested positive for the presence of the drug.

Magistrate Juan Wolffe asked how long Simons, a first-time offender had been using drugs.

He said: "Now and then. I just started. I lost my mom and dad and my brother in the past two years."

Mr. Wolffe also asked him how serious the problem is and Simons said: "It's not that serious. I stopped since I got caught. I was so shaken up. I have never been in trouble before like this in my life."

Mr. Wolffe said: "I'm leaning towards a sentence that wouldn't lead to a conviction but before I do that, we need to learn about you. I agree with the Crown that a BARC report maybe in order.

"I am going to have you get a BARC report and depending on what that says I may proceed not to convict."

The Magistrate also ordered a social inquiry report and delayed sentencing until October.