Dingwall man caught growing his own cannabis told police he smoked up to 15 joints a day, Highland sheriff told as sentence is passed
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A Dingwall man who smoked 10-15 cannabis joints a day set up his own drugs farm to supply his habit.
But Inverness Sheriff Court heard that when Artur Kordas's landlord went to inspect the property in Macrae Crescent, he found that rooms were being used to cultivate the drug.
The police were immediately informed and after a search warrant was obtained, officers raided the house on February 4, 2020.
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald was told that two bedrooms had a hydroponic system installed to grow a total of 23 plants.
They were each estimated to have a value of between £250-£900.
A total of 400 grams of loose cannabis was also recovered with a potential maximum value of £6,675.
The court heard that 39-year-old Kordas told police he smoked 10-15 joints daily.
Kordas, now of MacGregor's Court, Dingwall, admitted producing a controlled drug.
His solicitor, Duncan Henderson told the sheriff: "He is no longer using the drug. He is adamant these were entirely for his own consumption."
Sentencing Kordas to 225 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to custody, Sheriff Macdonald told him: "People get jailed for this offence and I could easily send you to jail today.
"You may have been growing these plants for your own use but it is still illegal to do so.
"These were a significant number of plants. But in the circumstances I am prepared not to send you to jail." the Sheriff added.
But she warned Kordas if he did not complete the order successfully, he would be sent to prison.
