A man stopped by police in a park because he smelt of cannabis told the officers nothing would stop him from smoking the drug.

Cary Barrass was searched in Pencester Gardens, Dover, and immediately admitted he had smoked a joint - and had two more in his pocket.

Margate magistrates heard the 48-year-old factory worker also confessed to having a knuckle-duster in his other pocket.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, told the court the officers had smelt cannabis as Barrass walked past them on October 27 last year.

She said: “He told them he would never stop smoking it as he’s smoked it for about 35 years - since he was about 12 - and nothing would stop him.”

Barrass was arrested and later charged with possession of a Class B drug and possession of an offensive weapon.

He pleaded guilty to both offences when he appeared in court in December.

The case against him was adjourned and a pre-sentencing report was ordered.

Barrass, of St Radigunds Road, Dover, appeared at Margate Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Magistrates heard Barrass had previous convictions, including other drug matters, and had been jailed before for Class A drug offences and affray.

However, Miss Farbrace also said Barrass had been convicted of possession of an offensive weapon in January 2005, when he was jailed for six months for the offence and was, as a result, a “two-strike” offender.

The “two strikes” measure creates a mandatory minimum six-month sentence for a second conviction of possession of a bladed article or possession of an offensive weapon.

But Miss Farbrace said he simply had the knuckle-duster in his pocket, had not used it as a weapon and had admitted to the police straight away that he had it.

The court was also told by a probation officer that Barrass did have a long history of previous convictions, but had not really offended for about 15 years and was now stable and had changed his life for the better.

The officer also said that if Barrass was jailed, he would lose his accommodation and his job at a salad factory where he works six nights a week.

The court was told that he had now reduced his cannabis intake but didn’t want to stop altogether as he had smoked it all his life and didn’t touch alcohol.

Magistrates also heard he had the weapon for his own personal protection as he had been attacked before but had not been threatened for some time. He is now confident to go out without protection as he now has a dog he walks which gives him confidence.

Regarding the previous weapon offence, Roger Davies, defending, said: “It was a novelty cigarette lighter which had a knife in it. It was just a novelty item and he had found it.

“He didn’t feel safe [when he carried the knuckle-duster] and he immediately revealed it to the police.

“The dog now gives him enough confidence not to take a weapon out.

“I urge you to suspend any sentence and he will be on his best behaviour.”

Magistrates told Barrass the weapon offence did pass the custody threshold but they were prepared to suspend the term because he had a stable job and home.

Barrass was jailed for six months for the weapon offence but the term was suspended for 12 months. He was placed on a 12-month community order which will see him attend 20 rehabilitation sessions with probation.

He received no separate penalty for the possession of cannabis offence but was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154 as well as £85 court costs.