£1,250 fine for man who grew cannabis plants

A builder who grew cannabis plants had just under £4,000 of the class B drug when police raided his farm, a court’s heard.

Shaun Yates of Sound Road in Glen Maye appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes at Douglas Courthouse.

The 53-year-old pleaded guilty to one count each of cultivating cannabis and possessing it on May 19 last year.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the hearing police raided the farm shortly after 9am and searched a number of buildings.

They found what was described as an unsophisticated hydroponic system as well as six cannabis plants and jars of the drug.

Yates told officers he self-medicated because he suffered anxiety and depression, adding they’d taken all that away from him.

Mrs Hughes fined him a total of £1,250 and ordered him to pay costs of £50.