A TRANENT man has been fined after he pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing quantities of cannabis.

Kurtis Brown, of Fa’side Crescent, was caught with bags of the Class B drug while sitting in a car in the town.

Fiscal depute Oliver Davidson-Richards told Edinburgh Sheriff Court that police were on mobile patrol when they spotted a white car parked in a car park at the town’s Coal Neuk at about 4pm on May 2, 2020.

The officers identified themselves and, as they spoke to the occupants, there was “a strong smell of cannabis” emanating from the vehicle.

The court heard that 25-year-old Brown was in the passenger seat and his co-accused John Brash, 35, was sitting in the driver’s seat.

Mr Davidson-Richards said that Brown was found to be in possession of “herbal matter” and he was arrested and taken to St Leonard’s Police Station, Edinburgh.

While being interviewed, he allowed officers permission to search his home, where they proceeded to find further quantities of the Class B drug.

The court heard that police officers discovered a total of 29 grams of the drug.

Brown was initially charged with being concerned in the supply of cannabis but his guilty plea to the lesser charge of possession was accepted by the Crown.

Sheriff John Mundy issued a fine of £235 to mark the offence.

Co-accused Brash, of Fa’side Crescent, pleaded not guilty to the supply allegation and he will stand trial on that matter later this year.

Brown pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis at Coal Neuk, Tranent, on May 2, 2020.