A 67-year-old man has been fined $2,500 after being caught with crack cocaine in Hamilton.

William Charles Booth was spotted acting suspiciously by Police on patrol in King Street at 11.34 a.m on February 4.

According to prosecutor Carrington Mahoney, he turned around when he saw the Police car and tried to conceal items on his person.

When approached by the Police, Mr. Mahoney said Booth "became very nervous and started to tremble".

He was searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act and a crack pipe and two rocks of the drug were found.

"I just have a little piece of it Sir," said Booth, of North Cote Road, Pembroke, as he was arrested.

The crack weighed 0.8 grams. Booth pleaded guilty to drug possession when he appeared in court.

Mr. Mahoney said Booth has previous convictions, and handed details to Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.

But Booth argued: "No Sir, not for drugs."

Mr. Warner fined him $1,000 for the drugs plus another $1,500 because he was caught in an increased penalty zone within 300 metres of Focus drug counselling services and Heritage nursery and preschool.

If Booth does not pay the fine by June 11, he will serve three months in prison instead.