Man Sentenced After Cannabis Valued at Over £4,000 Discovered in Hotel Room

A 22-year-old man, Ethan Sayle, has received a sentence after being apprehended with cannabis valued at over £4,000 concealed in his hotel accommodation. His arrest occurred on 12 May 2023, following a traffic stop for a faulty vehicle light, during which police discovered £25 worth of ketamine and a hotel room key in his car. Douglas Courthouse heard that the cannabis was discovered by the management of the Palace Hotel in the capital during a search of the room. Deemster Graeme Cook imposed a 14-month sentence on Sayle, which was suspended for two years, stating that Sayle had been “very foolish”. The court was informed that Sayle, residing at Clifton Terrace in Douglas, was pulled over around 01:00 while operating a black BMW on Peel Road. Inside the vehicle, officers located two wraps containing white powder, alongside the key for the room he occupied at the Palace Hotel. Subsequently, drug paraphernalia and cannabis with a value of £4,364 were located within the room. The court also heard that Sayle was stopped by police again in September of the current year, after officers noticed a cannabis odor emanating from his car. Although no drugs were discovered in the vehicle, the 22-year-old was arrested for driving while disqualified and without insurance, having been prohibited from driving since November 2023. Sayle entered guilty pleas to charges of possession with intent to supply cannabis, possession of ketamine, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance. His defence advocate informed the court that Sayle is currently “drug-free” and that his “chaotic lifestyle has stopped”. Deemster Cook stated that he found “good reason” to suspend the sentence, citing Sayle’s youth, employment status, and continued drug-free state. Additionally, Sayle was mandated to pay £500 in court costs.