by Lynn Cox

A jobless weed-smoking teenager, caught with a gram of herbal cannabis, admitted in court he has been smoking the drug since he was just eight.

Jason Malloy, 18, even admitted he could smoke a joint up to every half-hour, since becoming addicted when he was in primary school.

Malloy, who lives with his mum, in Coney Mews, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, found himself in court after being arrested in July for another matter.

As police apprehended him, he told them he had some cannabis in his pocket. After being searched, they found a small padded bag with about a gram of the drug inside.

Malloy, who has previously been given a warning by police for growing the drug, was charged with being in possession, he was never charged in relation to the matter he was originally arrested for.

He appeared before magistrates in Medway where he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Malloy, who represented himself in court and even writes about smoking spliffs on social networking site Facebook, told the bench: "It was stupid to have it on me in the street."

The bench asked him how he supported himself and how he paid for his habit, he replied: "I'm not working, my mum supports me, she gives me £10 pocket money.

"I've been using cannabis since I was eight years old, I smoke between £10 and £20 worth a day and I save my money for it."

Magistates decided they would adjourn for a pre-sentencing report to be completed on Malloy to find out what is behind his weed-smoking addiction.

Chairman of the bench David Graeme said: "You've admitted you've been smoking it since the age of eight and we will ask probation to write a report to explain just what behind it all."

The case was adjourned until Thursday, September 22.