AN ISLE of Wight man was caught in possession of a cannabis joint after police spotted an abnormally large cigarette in his hand while he was helping his girlfriend with the shopping.

Pierre Reid, of Lake Green Road, Lake, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Friday, May 31.

The 33-year-old admitted possession of cannabis, in Sandown, on March 20.

Prosecutor, Munayah Hassan, said Reid had been detained during a stop and search.

She said police were alerted to an abnormally large cigarette which Reid initially claimed was “a fan”.

Ms Hassan said some cannabis flowers were detected inside the joint, at which point Reid claimed it was legal CBD cannabis which could be bought in shops.

The court heard Reid had ten previous convictions for 22 offences, of which six were drug-related.

Bridget O’Hagan, defending, said it was just a single joint and Reid was a recreational user.

She said he had been rolling it at home and went outside to help his pregnant girlfriend with the shopping when police noticed the joint in his hand and stopped him.

Reid, whose last offence was six years ago, was fined £80 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £32 surcharge.