Whisky brought out the ‘demon’ in ‘Bohemian’ cannabis farmer

An “eccentric and Bohemian” cannabis grower who terrorised a pregnant neighbour has been jailed for four months.

After 30 trouble-free years in his rural home, Marcus McDermott blasted out music and swore at neighbours after whisky brought out the “demon” in him.

Police found a cannabis cultivation of some 50 plants in a caravan after being called to his home in Auchterhouse after incidents in June and September last year.

After reading a social work report which said the 55-year-old was not willing to stop producing the drug, a sheriff at Forfar told McDermott there was no option but to send him to jail.

McDermott, of Bonnyton Road, had previously admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and playing loud music at his home on June 26 and September 2 and producing cannabis.

Sentence had been deferred for reports, including a psychiatric assessment.

Solicitor Robin Beattie said: “He is described as being eccentric and Bohemian and I think that’s fair.”

McDermott was jailed for four months for the September offences and had sentence deferred for 12 months on the June charge.