A MAN who was found carrying a 'significant' amount of cannabis after he fled police officers has been sentenced in court.

Jake Edmunds, 23, of Westfield Crescent in Yeovil, was in the passenger seat of a car stopped by police in Salisbury on January 28. 

Police officers were notified that the vehicle had been involved in suspicious circumstances and possible drug dealing.

When the officers approached the car, Edmunds exited it and attempted to escape but was caught shortly afterwards.

Edmunds smelled strongly of cannabis and upon searching him, officers found a total of 31.4g of the drug in snap bags and he was subsequently arrested.

Robert Salame, prosecuting, told Salisbury Magistrates Court on Friday, December 1, that Edmunds had previous drug-related convictions at his recent offence was aggravated by the "significant quantity of cannabis found".

Trevor Line, mitigating, said his client has moved away since he was recalled in March and has "shown a much more positive attitude to life" with his girlfriend of nine months.

Mr Line added that Edmunds is currently employed but will be starting a carpentry course at college in January.

Magistrate Mrs M Burton, chair of the bench, told Edmunds: "You have been to custody and you were recalled earlier this year so hopefully that was a salient order for you."

Edmunds was sentenced to a 12-month community order during which he must complete 80 hours of unpaid work, 25 RAR days and 12 mental health rehabilitation days.

Magistrates ordered for the drugs to be forfeited and destroyed and Edmunds must pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.