counselling and probation, a court ordered yesterday.

The Devonshire boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Family Court he found a plastic twist containing 0.66 grams of cannabis under a school sink on October 19.

A teacher later found the twist in his possession.

He told the court: "I was planning to give it to the teacher. But at that particular time she was teaching and we were not supposed to talk.'' When asked what he would do if he found a drug again, he replied: "I would not even bother with it.'' Acting Magistrate Justin Williams warned him that if he was an adult in Magistrates' Court he would be facing a two-year jail term or a $2,000 fine because schools were considered to be increased penalty zones under drug law.

The youth was given a further 12 months probation on top of the year's probation he is already serving for another offence and he was ordered to attend drug counselling at Bermuda Youth Counselling Services.

Asked if he was using drugs, he replied: "I am not taking drugs, not at this particular time.'' His mother later challenged him to clarify what he meant after explaining that she feared he was using drugs.

She said: "I had some evidence, I put it to him to confess out of his own mouth.'' She said she had tried to get her whole family, including her husband, to attend drug counselling but only her ten-year-old had expressed interest in going with her.

She said he then changed his mind because he didn't want to be the only one going.

Mr. Williams said he had no power to force the family to attend sessions but recommended they go.