A father-of-two turned to growing cannabis in his bedroom and loft after taking up drugs to deal with a “toxic” relationship.
Alan Welsh led police right to his cultivation after he asked them to allow him to get changed before they detained him for another matter, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Officers attended at his Woodside home on September 17 last year on an unrelated matter, but soon caught a sniff of the cannabis cultivation and the sound of a fan running after he led them into his bedroom after he asked for a brief moment to get changed.
The court heard how the 49-year-old father-of-two had turned to drugs after entering into a “toxic” relationship with a new woman after the death of his wife of 15 years.
Fiscal depute Tom Procter said: “When asked about the smell he advised police he had a cannabis plant growing in his cupboard and said he also had four plants growing in his loft.
“Both growing areas were connected by the same ventilation system and power supply.”
The mature plant was thought to have a value of around £300 while the immature ones in the loft were of nominal worth, the court was told.
Used drugs as ‘coping mechanism’
Welsh, of Don Street, Woodside, admitted producing the Class B drug at his home.
His defence agent Andrew Ormiston said: “During the currency of the most recent relationship the behaviour of his new partner towards his children had been concerning.
“He accepts he was using the cannabis as an inappropriate coping mechanism to deal with the stresses and anxieties he was experiencing as a result of the toxic relationship.
“He recognises his wilfulness misconduct and is ashamed.
“He has learnt from it and now completely abstains from cannabis. He has no desire to go back to using it.”
‘Keep your nose clean’
Sheriff Philip Mann warned Welsh drug production could warrant a custodial sentence but said given it was a “relatively small amount for your own use” he was persuaded against jailing him.
He handed him a one-year supervision order and 120 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody. He said: “For the sake of your kids, keep your nose clean and get the work done.”
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