A man has claimed he obstructed an officer attempting to search him for cannabis because he was being harassed by Police.

Herbert Dillas, of Riviera Road, Southampton, yesterday pleaded guilty to obstructing an officer at Southampton Rangers Club.

However the 36-year-old denied the version of events given by Police.

Crown counsel Nicole Smith said officers were at the club carrying out a liquor licence check on August 8 and found Dillas standing in the doorway.

Dillas saw the officers, hurriedly placed his hands in his pockets and went inside the club.

Police followed him inside and noticed the smell of burnt cannabis where he had been standing.

They approached Dillas and told him they were going to search him under the misuse of drugs act.

Dillas then shouted out: "You're not searching me. I did nothing."

He was arrested for obstruction after he repeatedly pushed away an officer's hands and clenched his hands in his pockets during the search attempt.

In Magistrates' Court, he said he had not been outside the club, and he was surprised when officers approached him inside.

"I was gripped by two officers. I was snatched," he said. "I asked them what I had done and if I had a warrant for me.

"They never touched anyone else. There were 200 people there. For them to smell weed, and out of 200 people to only touch me, that's harassment."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined Dillas $300, saying: "If Police have reasonable grounds that you're carrying something that would be liable for seizure, like drugs, they can search you."