A man caught with a $5,000-plus stash of drugs at his home has been jailed for 18 months.

Jeremiah Hayward, 25, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and cannabis resin with intent to supply at Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Senior Crown Counsel Paula Tyndale told the court Police officers from the Narcotics, Serious Crime and Emergency Response teams raided the apartment Hayward shares with co-defendant Justin Renaud, 24, in Serpentine Road, Pembroke.

She explained the warrant, executed at 5.52 a.m on September 21 2006, was issued under both the Misuse of Drugs and Firearms Acts as a result of "information received."

A search using a sniffer dog revealed cannabis in a kitchen drawer and cabinet, on the bathroom floor and on the filter of the kitchen range. Ms Tyndale said Hayward admitted buying the drug found on the range, explaining: "I was going to smoke that but it wasn't cured yet. I was drying it out."

The Police found more cannabis in the car port, with Hayward also admitting it was his. According to Ms Tyndale, both Hayward and Renaud were arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station where they accepted knowledge of the drugs found at their home. Renaud faces the same charges as Hayward but has pleaded not guilty and will go on trial.

Ms Tyndale said in total, Police discovered 47.77 grams of cannabis with a street value of $2,375 and 26.49 grams of cannabis resin worth $2,650.

The maximum sentence for the offence is ten years in prison.

Sentencing Hayward to the 18-month term yesterday, Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner heard submissions from defence lawyer Llewellyn Peniston who said he has no previous convictions and is not solely to blame for the offence. "There's great scope for him to turn his life around. We must be careful not to extinguish, by a harsh sentence, any opportunity to turn his life around," he told Mr. Warner.

Sentencing Hayward, the Senior Magistrate observed that there was a substantial amount of drugs, and a need for a deterrent sentence. However, he also took into account the fact that Hayward is of a young age and pleaded guilty at an early stage.

Renaud has been bailed until his April trial date.