A SCHIZOPHRENIC drug user was slammed by a judge for “stocking up on cannabis while most people bought food in bulk” as the Covid lockdown begun.

Weapon-wielding Alan Ayres was stopped by police at the roadside in Southend on March 23 last year, just hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the public to stay at home.

The 36-year-old was stopped at 10.30pm with officers smelling a “strong odour of cannabis” the moment they approached the car.

In a search of the car, police ended up finding 17 wraps of cannabis, and Ayres also produced a knuckleduster from within his clothes, which was confiscated by the police.

At Basildon Crown Court, Ayres, of Plume Avenue, Colchester, admitted possession of cannabis and possession of an offensive weapon.

Judge Samantha Leigh told Ayres: “You’re here because of what happened on March 23 last year, right before the lockdown.

“Most people were bulk buying food, but you were bulk buying cannabis for the lockdown period.

“The police smelt cannabis, they found the wraps, but this was not in dangerous circumstances.

“I know you have previous [offending], but this was a long time ago now.

“You have heard me say, had this not been a plea, it would have crossed the custody threshold.

“But giving you credit, it’s an 18 month community order, with 100 hours of unpaid work.

“If you don’t do the order you can come back before the court and be re-sentenced and sent to prison.”

Richard Witcombe, prosecuting, told the court that Ayres had previously offended by dealing with drugs, but that this happened more than 15 years ago.

Ayres dressed in dark grey clothing and a hoodie, with light brown mousey hair.

Mitigating, Nicholas Jones said Ayres was trying to make it through life as a father.

He said: “He is working as an electrician, he has six children, aged between ten and 18. He suffers from schizophrenia and takes medication for that.

“He pleaded guilty to these matters at an early stage.”