A CAR passenger was caught with cannabis after being stopped by police officers near Welshpool, a court heard.

Lewis Anderson Conaway, 21, was travelling with a group of young men when police stopped the car in Pool Quay on February 22.

He pleaded guilty to possession of the Class B drug at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, April 6.

Jim Neary, prosecuting, told the court: “When the police chatted to them, one of the officers said he could smell cannabis coming from the group.

“They were asked if they had anything. Mr Conaway said that he did, and produced a small amount of cannabis.”

“He fully admitted it was his for personal use.”

The court heard that the two grams of cannabis was worth around £10 to £20.

Mr Neary added that Conaway had appeared 12 times before the courts, but not for a drug-related offence.

Conaway told the magistrates’ bench that he uses cannabis to help with stress, adding that he had been trying to find work.

Chair of magistrates’ bench Nerys Jones said: “We’ve noticed you have had a long record and that you have moved on and there have been no drug related offences until now.”

“You can try to help yourself and change your habits.”

Conaway, of Salop Road, was given a 12-month conditional discharge, and fined £107.