A MAN who was caught with more than £10,000 worth of cannabis plants could be facing prison time when he is sentenced next month.

William Giannandrea had 33 cannabis plants within his Tullibody home when police executed a search warrant on July 17 of this year, following intelligence they received that there was a cultivation within the property.

Susan Campbell, depute fiscal, told Alloa Sheriff Court last Thursday that there were a number of jars with herbal cannabis visible around the property and on that basis police were granted a warrant to search the house while the accused was taken to Falkirk police office.

In total, there were 22 mature plants and a further 11 in their infancy, as well as equipment used to keep a cultivation.

Ms Campbell said the total value of the plants was £10,450.

The prosecutor went on to say that Giannandrea made a "full admission" to officers about the production of the plants.

Bizarrely, Giannandrea said he would occasionally "give away the product to friends in exchange for money" to pay his electricity, although didn't go as far to say he was dealing the drug.

Larissa Milligan, representing the 53-year-old, told the court that her client became involved because of his own "high levels" of use which he used to "self-medicate" certain conditions, adding that he initially did not expect it to be successful.

Ms Milligan continued by saying Giannandrea told police he was a heavy smoker, but could not afford to keep up that habit, instead turning to cannabis.

In reference to exchanging the product for money, Ms Milligan said: "He sold it to pay for electricity which, unsurprisingly, is exceptionally high."

The court also heard the accused is set to lose his tenancy after 18 years as a result of the conviction.

Sheriff David Mackie intimated he would like to obtain background reports into Giannandrea, of Broomieknowe, before sentencing.

The case will recall on September 5.