cannabis.

Douglas S. Outerbridge, of Farmstead Lane, Sandys Parish had earlier denied the charge.

But when he appeared in court with his lawyer Phillip Perinchief on Monday for the start of his trial, he changed his plea.

Prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said Police, acting on a tip, went to Outerbridge's home on July 22 with a search warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Upon entering the home, an officer asked Outerbridge if he had any drugs in the house to which he replied: "Not in the house''.

The officer then asked him if there were any drugs anywhere on the property.

Outerbridge led Police out into the back yard where he said: "I have baby plants growing in the yard.'' He was arrested and charged with cultivating five small cannabis plants which were seized at the time of his arrest.

Mr. Perinchief pointed out the plants were small and that Outerbridge had cooperated with Police. Sgt. Taylor agreed.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis said matters of cultivation were hard because the weight of the trees was never determined when they were analysed.

Mr. Francis took into consideration the fact the plants were only a month old and for Outerbridge's personal use. He therefore fined Outerbridge $500.

In a separate case yesterday, Marvin Norman Symonds was fined $700 for cultivating five cannabis plants when he appeared before the Senior Magistrate yesterday.

Symonds, 34, of Spanish Point, Pembroke, admitted the offence.

Sgt. Phil Taylor, prosecuting, said Police were called to his home on another matter and his girlfriend collected the plants from various places in the home where they had been growing in pots.

Symonds told Police that they were for his own personal use.

"I'm guilty of all that there,'' he told the court yesterday. "I have placed myself in rehab and I am trying to get help.'' Senior Magistrate Will Francis imposed a $700 fine on Symonds for cultivating the cannabis.