A Banchory fisherman who claims he was growing cannabis plants to use as bait says he is “absolutely terrified” of going to prison.
Trent Rudd, 63, was caught by police attempting to dispose of more than a dozen cannabis plants in his back garden.
When quizzed by officers Rudd insisted he had bought the seeds on eBay for innocent reasons and intended to use them to catch fish, not get high.
Police valued the plants at between £2,600 and £10,000.
Rudd pleaded guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to one charge of producing a controlled drug and another charge of attempting to dispose of the cannabis plants by pulling them out of their pots before the police arrived.
‘It was a lovely summer at that time and I was really bored’
Speaking to the Press and Journal, Rudd said he had bought the seeds during the first lockdown and popped them into the soil out of “boredom”.
It is understood anglers sometimes scatter hemp seeds around their hook bait in an effort to attract fish.
Rudd said: “I know nothing about gardening but I had a load of fishing tackle and had run out of plant seed so I bought a trial pack of these seeds off of eBay.
“It was a lovely summer at that time and I was really bored so I stuck a few seeds in the pot out of curiosity and boredom – and they sprouted!”
However, when police received an anonymous report of cannabis being smoked at an address on Old Mart Place, Aboyne, on June 24 2020 they went to investigate and caught Rudd removing the cannabis plants from pots.
“I don’t smoke it and I knew it was a bit dodgy, but when the police came to the door I just panicked and pulled them out,” Rudd said.
“My partner had invited the police around to the back garden and that was it.”
Rudd, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, stated that he “can’t deny” growing the plants because he “did it”.
Asked if he is concerned about the possibility he might go to jail, he replied: “Of course, I’m absolutely terrified.”
Sheriff warns fisherman his actions could result in prison time
Defence agent Charlie Benzies told the court that his client had bought the seeds off eBay for £2.49 but “made no commercial gain and was intending to use them as fish bait”.
He added: “Mr Rudd has no previous convictions and has never been in any sort of trouble in his 63 years.”
But Sheriff Philip Mann questioned Mr Benzies claims, asking: “What did he think he was going to be producing? Yet more hemp seeds?
“We’re looking at the possibility of £10,000 to a minimum of £2,600 here.”
Directing his comments at Rudd, Sheriff Mann said: “I recognise that you are a first offender and that is really the reason I’m going to call for reports because I want to see what truly was your purpose in producing these plants.
“It really is a serious offence which could result in a custodial sentence.”
Sheriff Mann deferred sentence on Rudd, of Ilderton Place, Banchory, in order for a criminal justice social work report and restriction of liberty order assessment to be carried out.
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