pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to possessing more than $600 worth of cannabis for supply, and drug equipment.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Rex Osborne said narcotics officers went to Omar Ali Ratteray's Border Lane home on September 9 with a search warrant.

There they found three brown paper twists on a table in his bedroom. Two of the twists contained plant material and one contained stalks. In a large plastic bag they found 25 more paper twists and a wooden cigarette pipe on a shelf.

Sgt. Osborne said an analysis of the plant material found it to be 16.59 grams of cannabis worth about $625. A cigarette pipe, he added, tested positive for traces of cannabis.

Ratteray's lawyer, Mr. Michael Scott, pointed out that his client pleaded guilty and cooperated fully with Police.

"The most significant thing that I will say to this court is that this is the first time he has ever been before the court,'' said Mr. Scott.

"My client is a graduate of the Berkeley Institute where he did extremely well before going on at his parents' urging to Perkiomer College in Pennsylvania.'' Mr. Scott submitted letters from Perkiomer teachers describing Ratteray as "an insightful and perceptive person''.

On Ratteray's return to Bermuda, he worked at the Bank of Butterfield and Tungate Electric.

"I submit that after he left the Bank of Butterfield where he was employed for three years he became idle and fell into this offence,'' Mr. Scott said.

"However, he has the life skills and character which has been vouched for by teachers at the school. I ask that your punishment fit my client's character.

This is his first departure from the straight and narrow. He is hunting for jobs, hoping to put himself back on track.

"A community service order, provided that it could help to land him back in employment is what I think is appropriate.'' Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis told Ratteray that possessing drugs with intent to supply was a serious offence and that the usual course was a period of imprisonment.

But Mr. Francis, who contemplated remanding Ratteray in custody until preparation of the social inquiry report, was persuaded by Mr. Scott's arguments against prison.

Mr. Francis ordered Ratteray to reappear on February 11.