A Pembroke man has been fined in court after being caught in possession of cannabis on Christmas Eve.

Thirty-six-year-old Dean Howells, of Shoulder of Mutton, pleaded guilty to possessing 1.3 grams of herbal cannabis when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that police officers attended the defendant’s address on a totally unrelated matter on December 24.

“Mr. Howells opened his front door and officers could smell cannabis. He appeared nervous and initially denied that he had any, but when officers told him that he would be searched, he produced a bag containing the drug.

“The defendant has a long history of offences from 2002 onwards, with 15 on record,” he added.

Defence solicitor Mark Layton told the court that his client made full and frank admissions in a police interview, and said that the cannabis was for his own personal use.

Magistrates fined Mr. Howells £80 for the offence and ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.