AN Appleby horse fair visitor expressed his surprise at being brought to court after police found cannabis in his possession at the annual event.

Ashley James Titherington, 38, told magistrates he thought he had escaped with a warning after an incident at the world famous fair this year.

A prosecutor described how a drugs “stop and search” procedure was performed by police in Appleby on 9th June.

“This was carried out on Mr Titherington. Police found a snap bag and a joint on the defendant. This was identified as cannabis by an officer.

“It was identified as a small amount for personal use.”

Appearing court remotely over a video link, Titherington admitted possessing a controlled class B drug. Magistrates heard he had last been in court during 2021 for an assault and a racially aggravated public order offence. Before that, his last drugs crime had been committed in 2012.”

“I was at Appleby fair. I was in a private field with horses — a secluded part of the field,” Titherington told magistrates.

“About five guys in black uniform just started angling (sic) me, quite aggressively.  I figured out they were police. I let them do what they had to do.”

Titherington told of working all over the country as a landscaper whose job also involved tree removal. He learned of his court date only when his mother told him a letter had arrived in the post.

“I thought they had just taken the drug off me. I thought it was a warning,” he stated, expressing surprise that the incident had resulted in a court appearance.”

“I do smoke cannabis,” he admitted. “I don’t go blazing around the streets. It’s just a personal thing. I don’t encourage anyone else.”

Titherington, of Maplecroft, Stockport, was fined £300 as part of a total £505 court bill. Magistrates ordered that the cannabis seized should be formally forfeited and destroyed.