A man who had “feelings” for cannabis plants he was cultivating in his garage was ordered to carry out 300 hours’ unpaid work.
Perth Sheriff Court heard that Aaron Grubb, 34, of King Street, Newport, liked to watch the 24 plants grow and stressed he was not a drug dealer.
Police found the illegal drugs belonging to Grubb after they were given permission to search his house.
Depute fiscal Jim Eodanable told the court that officers found a “tent” at Grubb’s address with lights and heat coming from the garage.
“Officers entered the garage by a side door and were struck by the smell inside,” he said.
“They established that the garage was set-up for a cannabis farm. Some plants were dead but the agreed value of the drugs was £3,000.”
Solicitor Theo Findlay said his client, who is a boxing coach, had never been in trouble before and added that although it was an “odd” explanation, his client enjoyed watching the cannabis plants grow.
“My client had feelings for these plants that’s his position for getting involved in this,” he said.
“He had been at a low ebb when this happened and was not in any financial trouble at this time.”
Grubb admitted that between February 8 and March 8 at Laggan Fasgach, Kirkmichael, Blairgowrie, he produced cannabis a class B drug.
Sentencing Grubb, Sheriff Fiona Tait told him: “The court treats this as a serious matter but I am content to impose a community payback order as an alternative to custody.”
She ordered Grubb to carry out the unpaid work within six months and for the plants to be destroyed.