A 19 year-old who told police he was planning to sell cannabis to his friends has escaped a jail sentence.

Shaun Patrick O’Neill, of Orchard Road in Port Erin, admitted possessing the drug with intent to supply when he appeared before Deemster Doyle at a Court of General Gaol.

O'Neill was arrested in Port Erin on January 4 when officers discovered he was carrying 609 grammes of cannabis.

The court was told it had a street value of almost ?1,700.

O'Neill told the police he had the drug to sell it to friends, and denied he was planning to sell it to strangers.

Deemster Doyle imposed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He told O'Neill he considered him to be vulnerable and was giving him a chance by not sending him straight to jail.

But he warned him he would face severe consequences if he breached the suspension and appeared in court again.