A pensioner grew a £12,000 cannabis farm in his Perthshire bungalow because he didn’t want to associate with drug dealers.
William Wilson, 66, used the class B-drug for pain relief, but he was unwilling to buy it from criminals on the street.
Police raided his home in Methven in October 2020, following a tip-off that it was being used to grow cannabis.
They found a range of illicit crops worth up to £600 each.
Wilson appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted producing a controlled drug at his Lynedoch Road home on October 30, 2020.
The first time offender was warned that the offence could warrant a jail sentence.
His not guilty plea to a second charge of being involved in the supply of the drug was accepted by the crown.
Cannabis smell at bungalow
Fiscal depute David Currie told the court: “Police, acting on intelligence, attended at the accused’s address.
“They notice a strong smell of cannabis.”
The officers were let into the property by another person, and Wilson turned up while their search was already underway.
“The accused questioned officers about why they were there,” said Mr Currie.
“Police found a cannabis cultivation with a variety of plants worth between £200 and £600.
“The total value of the cultivation was estimated to be from £4,000 to £12,000.
“The accused was cautioned and charged and made no reply.”
Pain relief
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “Mr Wilson was using cannabis as treatment for a serious illness.
“He found that the substance was of some benefit to him and provided him with pain relief.
“He decided to grow his own cannabis so that he didn’t have to deal with drug dealers.”
Mr Holmes said: “Mr Wilson has expressed a strong willingness to comply with any unpaid work.”
Sheriff Gillian Wade told Wilson: “I understand the circumstances of this offence and obviously these are very difficult times.
“However, cannabis cultivation is simply unacceptable and it is an offence that meets the custody threshold.
“But I am prepared to deal with this by way of a non-custodial sentence.”
Wilson was ordered to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work.
