A SKIPTON man was seen throwing a bag of cannabis out of his window as police executed a drugs warrant on his home, heard magistrates.

Conrad Williams, 25, barricaded his door at Pinder House, Keighley Road, with a chair, in an attempt to stop officers from entering, the Skipton court heard today (Friday).

Prosecuting, Melanie Ibbotson, said while officers were having to force their way in, Williams was seen by police community support officers outside opening a window and throwing an item into the nearby canal.

A search of his flat uncovered a small amount of the class B controlled drug, and a larger amount in the canal, said Miss Ibbotson.

Williams, who admitted possession of cannabis on October 5, had previously served a prison sentence for dishonesty, the court was told.

The court heard in mitigation that Williams had not been in trouble since being released from prison in November, last year.

The small amount of cannabis was for his own use, to combat his anxiety and help him to sleep, the court was told.

Magistrates told Williams that he had had a 'chequered history' and that he clearly had an issue with cannabis, but they were prepared to give him a chance, after hearing he was meeting with the probation service regularly, and was hopeful of getting a job.

He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20.