An 18-year-old member of the national football squad was caught with 25 plastic twists of marijuana in his waist band.

Jahquille Stowe, of Loyal Hill, Devonshire, admitted possessing 15.45 grams of cannabis last December 5.

According to Crown counsel Maria Sofianos, Stowe was the subject of a stop-and-search in Union Street, Pembroke. Officers found the drugs bulging from the waist line of his underwear, and $375 cash.

The teenager, who graduated from the Berkeley Institute last week, was considered one of the Island's most promising junior footballers.

He was due to go to college in Canada, but since the charge has missed the opportunity, said defence lawyer Shade Subair.

Yesterday in Magistrates' Court, two teachers spoke on the teen's behalf and said the incident changed his attitude for the better.

Rachel Robinson, the health and physical educator at Berkeley said: "He is a humble young gentleman. Even after this incident he wanted to make personal amends, even before coming to this court.

"In conversing with myself, recognising the wrong which is in and of itself, I told him [it] was commendable and he wanted to remain a strong example for the entire student body, by even offering to speak in my classroom setting to students that may find themselves making poor choices because of social ills or any other negative influence."

English teacher Tonisha Key-Holmes said she watched as Stowe missed opportunities with the national squad and youth development agency Raleigh International, since the offence.

"He stands out as a leader, and I think the cockiness got to him but he has been humbled ever since this charge," she said. "He was always helpful. What I noticed after this incident was him being helpful to the low-level students."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ordered a BARC report before the sentencing of the teen on August 19.