A CANNABIS smoker with ADHD accused police of 'harassing' him after he was caught with the drug yet again.

Daniel Smith complained to a court that police were 'on his back' and were not helping him quit after he was stopped by officers in Evesham.

However, a senior magistrate told the defendant that the police would not 'harass' him if he stopped smoking the class B drug.

The 25-year-old admitted possession of cannabis when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday after police on mobile patrol stopped him on the A44, Evesham, at around 2.45am on March 10.

Nicola Ritchie, prosecuting, said the car was initially stopped because one of its front headlights was out but when they spoke to the defendant noticed the smell of cannabis.

The defendant handed over a green bag containing cannabis and a second smaller wrap also containing the class B drug.

In interview he admitted the £10 of cannabis was his and told officers he had intended to smoke it himself.

Smith also has a conviction from January 25 for possession of cannabis for which he was fined. He has previous convictions for possession of class A and B drugs from 2015 and 2014.

Smith, who represented himself, said he had been voluntarily seeking drug rehabilitation and had been diagnosed with ADHD.

However, to be medicated for that condition he had to be clean, describing his battle with drugs as 'a marathon, not a sprint' and complaining to the bench: "I keep getting pulled over."

Smith told magistrates this was leaving him in 'a depressed state' and said 'it's not helping me quit'.

Smith he only received £300 a month and he had £100 taken from him in fines, telling the bench: "I'm really trying to get clean.

"With the police on my back it's making me go one step forwards and two steps back. They're harassing me at the minute."

The chairman of the bench, Antony Fussey, replied: "We wonder whether it might be an idea, if you don't want to be stopped for possessing drugs, that you don't have them on you. They're harassing you because you have drugs on you."

Magistrates said they were going to put Smith 'on trust' and imposed a conditional discharge for 12 months.

Smith of Collins Way, Alcester, was ordered to pay £50 towards costs and a victim surcharge of £20 which will be added to the existing fines outstanding.