A Christmas dope smoking trip ended in disaster for a young man from Ramsey after he was caught by police.

Dean Richard Tate, of Brookfield Crescent, Ramsey, was found by police sitting in his car in Tromode industrial estate on Christmas evening.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told Douglas magistrates that police spoke to a couple in a VW Golf. They could smell cannabis and both were told they would be searched.

Tate, 20, said there was more in the car’s glove compartment and a total of two grams was found, worth £4.

Mr Swain told the court had it been a first incident, charges may not have been pursued, but the defendant had been cautioned a week earlier after a similar incident.

Tate admitted one charge of unlawfully possessing cannabis on Christmas Day.

Defending him, Paul Rodgers said the defendant had no criminal record other than the caution one week earlier.

’He was in a bad state. His girlfriend had left him; it was Christmas time and it relaxed him,’ he said.

’He is employed as a mechanic and he is a premier league footballer with Ayre United.’

Magistrates’ chairman Brian Walton agreed and issued a conditional discharge for 18 months. He must also pay £50 costs and a forfeiture and destruction order was made for the cannabis.