The pensioner had been caught in the vicinity of the central station in December 2014 with his stash, which amounted to around six grams of the highly addictive substance.

The judge ruled that the man could only be given a suspended sentence as there was not enough proof that he intended to sell the drug.

The senior had already been sentenced to three years in jail in 2011 for drug dealing but was let out on probation a year later.

Surprisingly fit for a man of his age, the defendant constantly butted into the proceedings during thrail, although at the outset he had announced he would not comment on the matter.

“He's very active for someone of his age,” said his probationary officer of the defendant who already had several convictions behind him, including hit-and-run and driving under the influence.

“He used to take pretty serious amounts of drugs and starting selling to finance his habit,” his lawyer said.

His probationary officer said that the social support – €399 per month – he received from the government was never enough and he had ended up running up debts with friends.

He had stopped taking drugs, she noted, describing him as very reliable.

The judge mentioned his surprise that the senior had once again been found with drugs. But said that at the age of 83 the man was “not the ideal candidate” for therapy so that he could “live a long and happy drug-free life.”