A MAN aged 59 from the Wrexham area who admitted possessing cannabis to alleviate the symptoms of bipolar has been sent on a course to learn about the effects of illegal substances.

Huw Morris Williams, of Drws y Nant, Legacy, near Rhostyllen, pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing the class B drug in February.

His not guilty pleas to possessing the drugs with intent to supply were accepted at an earlier hearing.

Judge Niclas Parry placed him on a two year community order with supervision and sent him on a programme run by the probation service aimed at helping him understand his involvement with illegal substances.

He was also ordered to pay £400 costs.

The judge said Williams undoubtedly had personal problems and the sentence was intended to help him.

Mold Crown Court heard police went to execute a search warrant at his home in February.

His elderly mother was present, so officers decided not to execute the warrant immediately.

They contacted Williams by phone, he was in Rhyl, but arranged to return home and he said he would show them where the drugs were.

Oliver King, defending, said while the total amount of cannabis was valued by the prosecution as £2,200, that was disputed by Williams.

A significant amount of the cannabis he had, which he had bought in bulk, was mouldy.

Williams had a number of problems and found taking cannabis helped with the symptoms. But there had now been a break-through and he realised he could not go on taking cannabis.

“He now knows that the impact of that, the harm, will far outweigh the benefits that he gets from it,” said Mr King.