New York, April 19 : CNN International news reporter Richard Quest was arrested in New York on Apr 18 with a small amount of methamphetamine in his pocket.

However, he avoided jail when he agreed to undergo drug counselling and therapy.

The 46-year-old, who is a British citizen, was arrested around 3:40 a.m. on a possession of a controlled substance count, a misdemeanour that generally refers to a personal use amount of a drug.

Quest was also charged with loitering for being in the park after 1 a.m. when it is officially closed.

Quest told police "I've got some meth in my pocket" when he was detained, according to the complaint filed in court.

The complaint said he had a plastic sandwich bag containing methamphetamine in a jacket pocket.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Anthony Ferrara told the newsman the charges would be dismissed if he completes a six-month drug treatment program and stays out of trouble.

"Mr. Quest did not realize the park had a curfew and was returning to his hotel with friends. The matter is scheduled to be dismissed," the New York Daily News quoted Quest's lawyer, Alan Abramson, as saying.

A CNN spokeswoman declined to comment.

Quest, an expert on business travel issues, is best known for his work on "CNN Business Traveller" and for his own hour-long feature program, "Quest."

ANI