An aspiring personal trainer who used cannabis to aid a knee injury which he suffered from weightlifting has been ordered to complete 80 hours of community service.
The 32-year-old, of Greenfield Close, Armagh, pleaded guilty at the City’s Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday to possession of class B.
The incident occurred on July 3, last year, when police executed a search warrant on the defendant’s home and seized 79g of herbal cannabis, roughly to the value of £800.
He was subsequently arrested and when interviewed about the amount he told officers he bought in bulk as it was cheaper.
Defence counsel explained that the defendant used the drug in order to self-medicate for a knee injury which he suffered from weightlifting.
They reiterated this by stating that he was not using cannabis “recreationally but for his own benefit”.
Court heard that the father-of-three had one similar offence on his record.
The defence said he was now working towards becoming a personal trainer and had in fact begun to work with several clients.
It was added that the 32-year-old had cooperated fully with police and also told them the amount of cannabis was “enough for a year” for him.
It was also suggested by the defence counsel that a community service order would be the most suitable punishment for their client.
Deputy District Judge Anne Marshall commented that she was suspect of the defendant’s comment that the drugs seized was a “year’s supply” but agreed a community service order was the most appropriate.
The defendant was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service.
