An off-duty officer smelt cannabis while waiting traffic lights in West Bridgford.
PC Steffan Griffiths was driving along Melton Road in West Bridgford when he stopped at some red traffic lights.
Seconds later, he smelt cannabis and suspected it was coming from the car in front.
The neighbourhood officer followed the vehicle as it set off from the junction and travelled along Wilford Lane at low speed.
PC Griffiths also observed the white Audi A5 weaving from side to side, almost hitting a kerb and road bollards.
He continued to follow the car and alerted his on-duty colleagues.
Officers caught up with them on the A52 at Bramcote Hills Park and pulled the Audi over.
Packets of cannabis were then found inside the vehicle along with a cannabis grinder and scales.
The driver, Taj Shakeel, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a class B drug.
He was also arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drugs but no charges were brought after an intoxilyser test delivered an inconclusive result.
At a hearing on Tuesday (12 July), Nottingham Crown Court heard Taj was stopped on 21 March 2020.
The 26-year-old, of Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis and was jailed for nine months, suspended for a year, and ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work.
Following the sentencing, Sergeant Graham Whitt, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “PC Griffiths and his on-duty colleagues deserve tremendous credit in ensuring Shakeel was arrested and put before the courts.
“As was demonstrated in this case, police officers may be off-duty but they are always ready to spring into action if and when they need to.”
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