A father-of-four admitted importing $8,000 worth of cannabis into Bermuda, on the morning his Supreme Court trial was due to begin.

Lincoln Christopher, 40, from St. George's, brought the drugs in through L.F. Wade International Airport on February 11 this year.

He pleaded guilty to importation yesterday morning, minutes before his trial was due to open.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves eventually agreed to bail him until he's sentenced but with some reluctance.

Prosecutor Kirsty-Ann Kiellor did not give any details of the importation in court beyond telling Mr. Justice Greaves that it involved just under two pounds of cannabis, with a street value of $8,000 if sold wholesale.

Defence lawyer Craig Attridge asked for a pre-sentence report and a substance-abuse report from the Bermuda Assessment and Referral Centre.

He also requested bail, "so that Mr. Christopher can continue to settle his affairs in respect of his four children and partner".

He acknowledged his client could be handed a jail sentence when he is sentenced.

Ms Kiellor did not object to bail as long as Christopher's travel documents are confiscated.

However, Mr. Justice Greaves cited his own concerns.

He made repeated references to a recent case where a man charged with importing more than 17 kilos of cannabis worth $800,000 fled the Island, despite having his passports confiscated.

Dennis Wright, 28, was scheduled to appear in court on October 25 alongside Kyle Ingham, 25, and Kenneth Butterfield, 33, to face the charges.

While both Ingham and Butterfield pleaded guilty to importing the drugs, Wright never appeared.

On October 28 the Supreme Court heard that despite having two passports taken from him, Wright boarded a flight to Canada on September 15, and three days later travelled into the United States by bus.

Mr. Justice Greaves ordered a warrant for his arrest, and ordered Wright's two sureties, his mother Cindy Caisey and his friend Ralph Robinson, to forfeit $10,000 to the court.

Signalling his displeasure over that yesterday, the judge commented: "We've got some fellas who run away from Bermuda when they're on drug charges [even when] you take away their passport, take away their boat."

He pointed out that some Bermudians have multiple passports.

But Christopher asserted he just has one passport a Bermudian one, which has expired and been surrendered to the Police.

Ms Kiellor confirmed the document was in Police custody and Mr. Justice Greaves eventually agreed to bail Christopher, but made it clear he is forbidden to leave the Island.

"A copy of that report should be sent to the officials at the airport," he ordered.

Christopher must return to court on December 1 when a date for his sentence will be fixed.