A 19-year-old with plans of going on to college apologised to Magistrates' Court for choosing the "wrong path" one which led him to having almost two grams of cannabis in his possession.

Manai Roberts, who pleaded guilty to a charge of drug possession and obstructing the course of justice, told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo: "I always understood that God would never put me in a position I can't handle. I chose to put myself in this position."

Roberts, who plans to start college in Canada in two weeks, pleaded with the Magistrate for leniency. He said: "Right now everything is in the hands of God and God will guide you.

"I am here in front of you and asking to make good choices. I don't want to make any more bad choices. I am 19, I have my whole life in front of me."

The court heard how Roberts, of Hilltop Drive, in Hamilton Parish, was hanging with a group of friends near Elliot Street on April 25 when they spotted Police and took off running.

Police caught up with Roberts and told him they would be searching him under the Misuse of Drugs Act, but Roberts gained access to a house nearby, hiding in a room closing the door behind him. When Police broke in, he was seen in a corner and arrested.

He was cautioned again and replied: "I never disrespected you guys."

In a separate matter, on June 1 at 2.30 a.m., a car was spotted by Police on North Shore Road, near East Point Lane, in Flatts, swerving over the central yellow line.

Police pulled the car over and found three people inside, including Roberts, who was leaning over attempting to hide something.

The officers opened the car door and smelled a strong smell coming from the vehicle. They searched Roberts under the Misuse of Drugs Act and found a clear, plastic twist in his front pants pocket and arrested him.

Mr. Tokunbo ordered a social inquiry report for Roberts before he is due to take off for college on January 16 and released him on $2,000 bail with one surety.