Man found with cannabis asked for on-the-spot fine

Jul 31 2008

A LARKHALL man spent the night in the cells after asking police officers for an on-the-spot fine for cannabis possession.

But the officers told John Newlands, who was on bail at the time, that wasn’t possible and detained him.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week 21-year-old Newlands, of Burnhead Road, admitted having the drug on July 24 on Wellgate Street.

However, his not guilty plea to a charge of obstructing police officers and running away from them was accepted by the Crown.

The fiscal depute told the sheriff court that Newlands was stopped by police patrolling the Larkhall street in relation to other matters.

When he was searched the officers found 7.4g of cannabis which, according to the Crown, was worth £15.

Newlands’ agent Charles Ferguson said the value of the cannabis was £10, not £15.

Asked by police about the substance, Newlands replied that it was a bit of hash and asked for an on-the-spot fine.

However, he was told by the officers that was ”not the way things worked”.

Newlands was arrested and spent the night in custody.

Mr Ferguson asked Sheriff Thomas Welsh to take into account that his client had spent the night in custody, and had pleaded guilty to the offence.

The lawyer also pointed out that while Newlands had a lengthy criminal record, he did not have any previous convictions for drugs offences.

Sheriff Welsh told Newlands that since he was pleading guilty at the first opportunity, he would fine him £80.