A MAN who police found driving with a cannabis bush stuffed in his boxer shorts must carry out unpaid work.

Terry Weise , aged 31, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cannabis before Worcester Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, said Weise, of Holbrook Vale in Wiltshire, was driving on the M5 between junctions seven and eight near Worcester on January 4 at 9.55pm when officers pulled him over after noticing him speeding.

According to Ms Ashton, officers were "overwhelmed" by the strong smell of cannabis coming from the vehicle and following a search of Weise and the car, they found a large plastic bag containing a cannabis bush which had been in the defendant's boxer shorts.

Ms Ashton said: "In interview with the police, Weise said he had moved to Wiltshire to look after his grandmother recently, but he didn't know anyone there that he could buy cannabis off. So he had been travelling to and from Worcester to buy cannabis in bulk to last him several months. He says he paid £470 for the cannabis and it is all for his own use. It was 130 grams of the drug and police say it would have a street value of between £900 and £1,350 when sold by the ounce."

Christopher Aggrey, defending, said cannabis use is "entrenched" in Weise's daily life.

"He grew up with it, from a young age it was used around him," he said.

"He's trying to ease himself off it because it is impacting his motivation. He smokes in excess of 10 joints a day. He moved to Wiltshire to be with his granny, he has no social life and no friends there, and he was just trying to be a good boy and help his nan. It's cheaper to buy the cannabis in bulk so he wanted to stock up. He saved up for a number of months to buy it. He says it is part of his Rastafarian background and he doesn't drink, smoke cigarettes or do other drugs."

District Judge Nigel Cadbury said that whether it was part of Weise's culture or not, it is "still illegal".

He sentenced Weise to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work over a year and to pay £85 in costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

He also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.