Police were called to a Sutherland cottage following a report of a man with injuries.
But when officers entered the property at Pitgrudy, near Dornoch, on November 10 last year, they got the strong smell of cannabis.
A search revealed two cannabis plants and a number of drying out cannabis buds, which had the potential to have a maximum sale value of almost £33,000.
Yesterday at Inverness Sheriff Court 21-year-old pig farm worker Reece Holmes admitted producing the drug and possessing it with intent to supply.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir told Sheriff Margaret Neilson that police found two tick lists, £145 in cash and scales in the property.
“He told officers that he had moved into the property seven months earlier with his girlfriend who had nothing to do with the drugs. He claimed they were for personal use and he smoked 3.5grams a day.”
Sentence was deferred until January 10 for a background report and Holmes had his bail continued.
But Sheriff Neilson told him: “Don’t read anything into this.”
Defence solicitor Graham Mann replied: “He isn’t. He recognises this is a serious offence with a high maximum value of drugs. Also that custody is a likely outcome.”
