A Devonshire man was given a 12-month prison sentence for possessing cannabis and drug equipment when he appeared in Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Ijah Richardson, 41, had pleaded guilty to possessing 423.23 grams of the controlled drug, as well as a set of digital scales, a pair of scissors, grinders and syringes, at a previous court appearance on December 19.

In court today, Richardson, who was unrepresented, asked for the court’s mercy and said he had made a stupid mistake.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said: “That wasn’t a mistake — that was deliberate.

“You just chose to gamble and you lost.”

Mr Tokunbo sentenced Richardson to 12 months in prison for having the cannabis and three months each for the drug equipment charges, to run concurrently.

• Also in court today, a Warwick teenager was bailed after he admitted having 15.83 grams of cannabis.

Kyle Lorenzo Tucker, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing the drug and one count of having a digital scale, intended for the misuse of a drug.

Prosecutor Nicole Smith told the court that Tucker was arrested in Paget on November 15 last year.

She said that police officers in a marked car on Tribe Road 4B in Paget, saw two males rush to a motorcycle and try to start it in the early hours of the morning.

She added that when they searched the motorcycle, Tucker said: “I have some weed in my pocket.”

A police analysis determined the drug to be cannabis and found traces of the drug, as well as cannabis resin, on the digital scales.

Mr Tokunbo ordered a social inquiry report and set bail at $3,000 with a surety.

The matter was adjourned to April 16 for sentencing.