saved a man from getting jail time.

Leroy Thompson, 32, of Granaway Lane in Sandys Parish, faced a charge in Magistrates' Court under the new no-go drug zone law.

He pleaded guilty to possessing .81 grams of cannabis within 300 metres of a school on November 1, last year.

An amendment was made last March to the Misuse of Drugs Act to protect schools, parks, and other places where youth congregate and fall prey to drug dealers. Thompson is believed to be the first before the courts since the amendment, although Police and court officials could not confirm this.

Police saw Thompson on the verandah of a building next to the Royal Naval Field in Sandys.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said Thompson acted suspiciously, put something in his mouth and struggled with officers when they tried to retrieve it.

When a small manila envelope twist was taken from his mouth, he made no comment to Police.

Magistrate Edward King and Ms Christopher argued at length about the necessity for a custodial sentence. And even Sgt. Taylor interjected that for such a small amount of marijuana, jail time was "not warranted''.

"A man can go to prison for .002 grams of cannabis,'' Mr. King replied. "The law provides for that. And anyway no one has allowed me to pass sentence!'' He then sentenced Thompson to 12 months in jail. But yesterday afternoon Mr.

King rescinded his decision to imprison Thompson and instead ordered him to pay a $1,150 fine by the end of February. The offence carries a maximum fine of up to $10,000 or up to three years in jail.