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A DULAIS Valley man escaped jail after admitting possessing cannabis – claiming he smoked the drug to cure his tinnitus.

Ray Wyeth, 53, of Khartoum Terrace, Onllwyn, was found with six grammes of cannabis resin when police executed a search warrant at his home on December 18.

At a sentencing hearing at Port Talbot Magistrates’ Court last week, Emma Miles, prosecuting, said: “Mr Wyeth told the officers that the drug was for personal use and that he was given it by someone who he refused to identify.

“He used the cannabis as a form of pain relief and fully intended to continue doing so despite his arrest.”

Wyeth, originally from Southampton, had a previous conviction for cannabis possession in 2003.

Iwan Jeffreys, defending, said his client deserved credit for his full and frank early admission of guilt.

Presiding magistrate Marion Reynolds told Wyeth:

“Was it explained to you what would happen if you breached it?”

Wyeth replied: “It’s for pain relief, it’s the only thing that works.”

Mrs Reynolds said the bench had seriously considered activating the suspended sentence but instead decided to give him another chance.

He was fined £125 and ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.