Union Mills man admits drug dealing to pay off drug debt

27-year-old will be sentenced in November

A Union Mills man will be sentenced later this year after admitting drug dealing to try and pay off his drug debt. 

Simon Fletcher, of Snugborough Avenue, appeared at Douglas Courthouse where he entered guilty pleas to possessing class B drugs with intent to supply.

The 27-year-old was travelling along New Castletown Road in Douglas, at 5.25pm on 19 February, when an off-duty police officer noticed a strong smell coming from the car.

It was intercepted by officers on Station Road in Ballasalla 10 minutes later.

Fletcher was in the passenger seat and told police he had 'about an ounce' of cannabis on his person.

Officers found 62.8g of the drug, worth £1,256 in the car, and a further 11.6g of cannabis bush, worth £232, at his home address.

They also discovered 8.7g of MDMA, valued at £348, which he claimed was for personal use.

Fletcher told police he began dealing after he saw a friend doing it and 'getting lots of money'.

He claimed he was attempting to pay off a drug debt of £2,000 and that he wanted 'to provide for his young family'.

A social enquiry report will be prepared before Fletcher's next court appearance on 28 November; he's been bailed until that date.