A former corrections officer was yesterday sentenced to a period of probation after being caught with cannabis.Tarik Smith, 24, was on sick leave at the time of the incident, and tendered his resignation following his arrest to avoid embarrassing his employer.Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday on June 26, officers on patrol on Ord Road saw two cycles travelling in the opposite direction and noticed one of the riders did not have his helmet properly fastened.They followed the vehicle onto Spice Hill Road, where they stopped the motorcycle. As they did so, they noticed Smith, the pillion passenger on the motorcycle, had his fist clenched and was holding his arm behind him.Officers had him open his hand, revealing a clear plastic twist containing what was later revealed to be 2.46g of cannabis.Smith apologised to the court and his former employer for the offence, saying he was going through a stressful situation and handled it in the wrong way.“I’m trying to do the right thing and stay out of trouble,” Smith told the court.Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo released Smith on six months probation for the offence, marking a conviction against him.