A man who was cultivating more than two dozen cannabis plants in his flat has avoided a prison sentence after he admitted it was “a stupid thing to do”.
William Adams, 64, was caught by police when they appeared at his door to carry out a welfare check when his neighbours said they hadn’t seen him in a long time.
When the officers entered they found he was growing more than 30 cannabis plants in his bedroom using two tents, a large fan and lights.
At a previous hearing of the case, fiscal depute Rebecca Thompson told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that at around 2pm on July 26 last year, police were contacted by Adams’ neighbours, due to him not being seen in weeks.
“Police attended at the accused’s property and upon being granted entry, they found two tents in the bedroom and plants within,” she said.
“They appeared to be cannabis and the accused was suspected of producing cannabis.
“He was arrested for the production of cannabis and two joints were retrieved from an ashtray at the property.”
Ms Thompson told the court that police then seized 34 plants in various stages “from mature to nearly mature”.
A number of items used in the cultivation of cannabis were also seized – including a growing light, a large air filter and a large fan.
Adams pleaded guilty to one charge of being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug.
Accused is ‘remorseful’
When asked by Sheriff William Summers if he had any mitigation to present to the court, Adams, who represented himself, described his behaviour as a “stupid thing to do”.
It was also stated in a criminal justice social work report that the 64-year-old was “remorseful” for his actions.
Sheriff Summers told Adams: “The charge that you have pled guilty to is a serious one and often results in the imposition of a custodial sentence.
“However, you appear before the court with no analogous previous convictions.”
As an alternative to a prison sentence, Sheriff Summers sentenced Adams, of Lewis Road in Aberdeen, to a community payback order with 120 hours of unpaid work.
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