A 20-year-old cruise ship passenger had his criminal matter discharged in Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Nasim Trotter, from Portsmouth, Virginia, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court yesterday to possessing a 9mm calibre bullet inside of his cabin on August 31.

Maria Sofianos, for the Crown, said customs officers were conducting checks in Dockyard on Wednesday. Officers decided to search inside Trotter’s cabin, where the bullet was found inside of a bag.

Once he was arrested, Trotter told officers that he was unaware that he had brought the bullet on this trip. The court also heard that he attends a gun range back in Virginia, which is why he had the bullet.

A tearful Trotter apologised to the court for the incident and said it was an honest mistake. He added that he had not eaten or slept since he was arrested.

Senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson accepted Trotter’s apology and discharged his case.