A man who grew cannabis at an Angus farm cottage was told he had growths forming on his lungs as he awaited a court date.
Peter Whyte from Dundee had a “lifelong addiction to cannabis” and grew his own plants at Upper Balmachie Farm Cottages near Carnoustie until police swooped last year.
The 59-year-old appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court, which was told he was given bad medical news after he admitted the offence.
For the Crown, fiscal depute Jim Eodonable said police had been tipped off to the operation because of its smell.
He said: “In this instance a particular odour had been identified and police were advised of it. A warrant to search the property was duly obtained by officers and the items located.
“The officers found a total of eight plants, which were worth from £60 to £160 each. The value is necessarily wide in scope due to the varying stages of growth of the plants.
“The paraphernalia is described loosely as ‘of a middling standard’. The accused caused officers no difficulties in their investigations.”
Defending Whyte, solicitor Bob Bruce said his client works for a flooring company in Dundee and moved to the city to live with his mother.
“He clearly has had a lifelong addiction to cannabis, and regrettably he has been told he has growths on his left lung,” Mr Bruce added.
“He has been advised to stop smoking and if he doesn’t there would obviously be dramatic consequences.”
The court heard the crop was grown from seeds which cost Whyte £30.
Imposing a community payback order for 120 hours of unpaid work on Whyte, Sheriff Gregor Murray said he had a similar conviction from a number of years previously.
“You are now facing the medical consequences of your actions,” he said.
“But you shouldn’t have the addiction, shouldn’t be using cannabis, and you shouldn’t be growing it. You have a very serious conviction of an analogous nature which I have to take into account.”
Whyte admitted producing cannabis at an address in Upper Balmachie Farm Cottages by Carnoustie on June 11 last year.