visitor appealed for help.

But James Kerr Stroud was still fined $100 for possession of cannabis resin in St. George's.

Stroud, 23, was adamant that the tiny, 0.04 grams of the drug, found in the fluff in his pocket did not belong to him.

But Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis told him that any drug in his "custody'' would be seen as belonging to him under Bermudian law.

Stroud said that the jacket, in which the drug was found did not belong to him.

He said: "I am over here for four days as a tourist. I work for an airline in England and I would not jeopardise my career by doing something so stupid.'' Stroud originally pleaded not guilty but informed the court that he would be leaving the Island today.

Following discussions between Mr. Francis, Police prosecutor Sgt. Kenrick James and duty counsel Ms Karen Williams, Stroud was persuaded to change his plea to guilty.

In another case Franklin Eugene Moniz, 30, of Slippery Hill, St. George's, was fined $200 for possessing 0.09 grams of cannabis and cigarette papers.