A pensioner who believed he had cancer was self-medicating with cannabis he had grown in the attic of his house.
But Inverness Sheriff Court heard yesterday that 65-year-old Brian McLeman’s fears were unfounded after a hospital examination.
However because McLeman had a previous conviction in 2008 for cultivating the drug, Sheriff Margaret Neilson warned him that if he appeared in court on a similar charge, he could be jailed.
The sheriff had deferred sentence for a background report after earlier being told that that police received a tip-off that McLeman was growing plants in his Kintail Court home.
When officers arrived to search the house on February 2, they got a strong smell of cannabis, fiscal depute David Morton said.
He added that officers found 24 plants being nurtured under a lighting system in the loft. Cannabis was also found in jars, Mr Morton added.
McLeman admitting production of the drug and possession of cannabis and was fined a total of £600.
Defence solicitor Clare Russell said the self-employed builder had grown it for medicinal purposes as he was awaiting tests for bowel cancer.
“The tests came back negative but he still has to have three monthly check-ups.”
