Man grew cannabis in his bedroom

Jul 2 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A MAN caught growing eight cannabis plants has been electronically tagged.

Police officers were attending a separate incident at Fir Grove, Craigshill, when they smelt a strong smell of cannabis in the close.

On inspection they discovered it was coming from the windows of one of the flats.

Officers knocked on the door and Alan Paterson answered and agreed they could search his house.

He was asked if there were any controlled drugs in the house and he said there were eight cannabis plants in his bedroom.

Paterson was taken to Livingston Police Station and he admitted to the police that he cultivated them.

The 24 year-old told officers he had saved up for equipment for a period of time and it was just him who tended the crop, which was entirely for personal use.

The plants had a total value of around £1350.

Last week at Linlithgow Sheriff Court, Paterson, whose address was given as Fir Grove, Livingston, pled guilty to the offence.

His solicitor, Raymond McMenamin, told the court his client had grown the drug for his own personal use.

Mr McMenamin added: “He does acknowledge that he has problems with his cannabis usage and, on occasion, with alcohol.

“He certainly regrets getting involved in this and expresses a degree of remorse.”

Sheriff Martin Edington electronically tagged the first offender and ordered him to stay within his home between 9pm and 6am for the next 40 days.