Cannabis grower fined

Published 14 Oct 2009 10:27

AN ALLOA man who grew cannabis plants in his loft because he couldn't afford to buy the drug was fined £200 at the town's sheriff court on Thursday.

Daniel Pearson (26) appeared on undertaking and admitted producing cannabis at his home in Paton Court on 9 September this year and to a further charge of possession on the same date.

Fiscal depute Jim Graham told the court that police attended Paton Court after receiving information about alleged cannabis cultivation in a house.

Pearson wasn't at home as he and his partner were visiting relatives but his partner was eventually contacted and agreed to a search being carried out in their home.

Police found 14 cannabis plants in the loft of the Paton Court House along with equipment for cultivation of these and also water for the purpose of cultivation.

When Pearson attended Alloa Police Station to be interviewed he admitted responsibility for the plants and said his partner knew nothing about it.

He said he used cannabis on a daily basis and had smoked it since he was 11-years-old, and was cultivating it to feed his own habit. Pearson added that he got one to three ounces per plant per cycle, and it had a value of £160 per ounce.

Pearson's defence solicitor Robert Smith said that Pearson had moved to Alloa from the Manchester area two or three years ago and had started growing the cannabis four months ago.

Mr Smith said that Pearson, who is unemployed, began growing the cannabis for financial reasons as it was cheaper than buying it from someone else and also because he didn't know many people but that this had been "a wake up call" for him.

Sheriff David Mackie said he was sorry to see Pearson, who is a first time offender, in court over this and ordered the forfeiture of equipment and the cannabis plants which had been kept by police in case of a trial.

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