Court after pleading guilty to possession of five grams of marijuana.

Magistrate Cheryl Ann Mapp was told that on the evening of August 7 plainclothes narcotics officers observed Delbert Edwards holding a brown paper bag and sitting on a wood railing in the Ord Road area.

When approached by the officers Edwards -- who works as a labourer -- threw the bag behind him. It was picked up by Police and found to contain seven small twists of cannabis.

The Crown added in 1987 Edwards had drawn a five-year jail term for handling and possession of cannabis. He was released in 1990.

Duty Counsel Juliana Jack urged Ms Mapp to disregard Edward's prior conviction, telling the Court the conviction was nearly ten years old and Edwards was found on this occassion with a relatively minor sum.

"I can't just disregard it because it's evident that after serving substantial time he's still involved with something that cost him a long period of his life,'' replied Ms Mapp.

Edwards told the court he was now a follower of the Rasta faith and used the cannabis for his own personal use.

"I have no disrespect for your faith, but as it pertains to the laws here it is illegal. Your doing your drugs in the Ord Road area is affecting the residents of Ord Road,'' said Ms Mapp before handing down her fine.