An Aberdeen man who tried and failed to grow his own cannabis was arrested when police visited his home and seized a plant he had nurtured to a height of two inches.
Paul Cameron, 48, had been trying to cultivate the Class B drug in his kitchen boiler cupboard after being given the necessary equipment from a friend.
But he was caught out when police appeared at his Great Northern Road flat on Wednesday, June 5, and later admitted a drugs possession charge.
Fiscal depute Lynne Macvicor yesterday told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that the officers “immediately noticed a strong smell of cannabis” when they visited the home of the accused.
She said: “Cameron allowed the officers into his home, subsequently advised them that he was growing a cannabis plant within a kitchen cupboard and allowed the officers to view said plant.”
Police later raided the flat and took various jars and bags containing more than £600 of cannabis, as well as growing equipment including a humidifier and lamp.
But listing the items seized and their values, Ms Macvicor said the plant itself was worth a “nominal” sum.
Cameron’s solicitor Graham Morrison explained that his client had been using cannabis “for some time” and embarked on a project to grow his own without knowing what he was doing.
Mr Morrison said: “A friend got transferred abroad so he gave the equipment to Mr Cameron, with his leftover cannabis in various jars.
“From his point of view, it meant he didn’t have to buy cannabis – he got the equipment from a friend.
“He had attempted using it but didn’t know how to. The plant was only two inches tall.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller ordered Cameron to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.
