Allan James Dixon, 38, of Bannerman Crescent, Kelso, did not appear to answer the charge against him and the matter was dealt with ex-parte by Bathurst Local Court magistrate Cate Follent.

He was convicted and fined $150.

Antecedents handed to the court told how Dixon has a lengthy criminal history involving serious violent offences and drugs and said Dixon made full and frank admissions to using the drugs for personal use.

Police facts handed to the court told how police attended the taxi rank outside Armada Shopping Centre (formerly Stockland) on Sunday, June 16 in relation to a man acting aggressively towards a taxi driver.

When they arrived, police were confronted by Dixon, who was highly agitated and aggressive towards officers, according to the police facts.

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Police said he appeared to be under the effects of drugs: his pupils were dilated and he was moving on the spot while speaking with police, who informed him that they were recording him.

The taxi driver told police the issue had been resolved, but while police were speaking with the taxi driver, Dixon became highly agitated and started swearing at the driver, according to the police facts.

Dixon refused to give police any identification and they performed checks on him via the Mobipol device.

He had numerous warnings for carrying knives in public and police formed a reasonable suspicion that he may have a knife in a public place.

They informed Dixon he would be searched and told him they would do the search around the corner and out of sight, according to the police facts.

Dixon complied and emptied his pockets and police found a small amount of cannabis wrapped in foil inside his wallet.

He was arrested and charged with possession of a prohibited drug: 0.5 grams of cannabis.