Caring for cannabis crop 'very therapeutic' for Denny offender

Paul Robinson (43) let police in his home when they knocked on his door – alerted to the address due to the strong smell coming from it – and then proceeded to show them his cannabis growing set-up, which he claimed had been very therapeutic for him.

The operation was also very successful, having produced around 1013 grams of cannabis worth a street valued of £11,000.

Robinson was adamant he was not selling the drug on to anyone, but was using it himself to help him get over his addiction to stronger drugs.

Appearing from custody via video link at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday, Robinson admitted producing and possessing the class B drug in his 40 Overton Crescent, Denny, home on August 14, 2018.

Nhabeela Rahmatullah, procurator fiscal depute, said: “Police attended at the address and from the common close of the premises they detected a stong smell of cannabis. They knocked on the door to carry out further enquiries and were invited in.

“They immediately detected a very strong smell of cannabis and noticed silver tubing coming from a bedroom. They asked the accused what it was and he said ‘it’s for plants – cannabis plants’.

“There was a large amount of cannabis buds on a table within the living room and in a large washing basket. He told police it was not intend to supply the drug.”

The court heard father-of-four Robinson, who now lives alone, had worked as a plumber, gas engineer and electrician and since coming off cannabis he had reportedly started having seizures. He is supposedly awaiting the results of an MRI scan.

Robinson was described as a “very heavy user” of cannabis and was said to have used the drug to help him come off heroin.

It was stated in court he found the growing process “very therapeutic”.

Sheriff Christopher Shead placed Robinson on a supervised community payback order for 12 months with the condition he complete 150 hours unpaid work in that time.