Police smelled Arbroath man’s cannabis operation through open window

An Arbroath man whose cannabis cultivation was uncovered after passing police caught the drug’s aroma through an open kitchen window received a community payback order.

Michael Finnie, 34, previously admitted supplying the drug at his Sidney Street home in the town between September 1 and December 30 last year in an enterprise the court earlier heard the accused thought would give himself “a little bit of extra cash and a free smoke”.

When officers went into the house they found 16.2 grammes of cannabis with a value of £162, and nine plants with a value of between £150 and £450.

Finnie’s solicitor said the supply operation had been very much on a “social basis”.

“It was a fairly botched exercise and actually ended up costing him money,” said the agent.

Sheriff Gregor Murray told Finnie: “For someone who has begun offending you have started off in style.”

Finnie was placed on a 12-month community payback order with a condition of 160 hours’ unpaid work.