A court has heard how a raid on an Angus council house uncovered a pressure cooker still in which a cannabis farmer was infusing vodka with the drug to create a concoction called weedka.
Police officers and the fire service were called to Mariusz Skrypkowski’s Montrose flat after council officers became alarmed by the sight of the appliance being held closed by mole grips with a heating element attached.
They had sent a letter to tell the 43-year-old about the visit to discuss anti-social behaviour complaints made by neighbours.
Skrypkowski was not at home and when drugs officers searched the flat they found more than 20 cannabis plants growing behind a false wall and a further 350 grammes of the class C substance.
Skrypkowski, of Orange Lane, Montrose appeared for sentence before Sheriff Gregor Murray at Forfar on Thursday, having previously admitted being concerned in the production of cannabis and possessing the drug at his home in late November last year.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said Angus Council had received numerous complaints over a number of months regarding the accused’s behaviour at his home.
“Council staff were met by an unknown associate of the accused who advised he wasn’t at home,” she told the court.
“They were allowed in and noted a pressure-type cooker in the kitchen being held closed by mole grips, with a some sort of heating element attached.
“They thought the accused might be hiding in the house and noticed a false wall, with a strong smell of cannabis and a pipe coming from it.
“Police were called, along with Fire and Rescue regarding the concerns over the pressure cooker.”
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The subsequent search warrant revealed the cultivation and the haul of herbal cannabis, which the Crown accepted was for personal use.”
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said: “If you got a letter saying that the council were coming to the house you might read it and then do something about it, but he did neither.
“He later volunteered himself to police admitted production from the outset. He was trying to infuse the cannabis in vodka to create what I am told was known as weedka.
“He has a conviction for growing cannabis in 2013 so is aware his liberty is at risk,” added Mr Markowski.
Jailing Skrypkowski for six months, Sheriff Murray told him: “A significant amount of cannabis, a significant amount of production, attempts to conceal it behind a false wall and a previous conviction from which it appears you have not learned can only lead me to one conclusion and that is a custodial sentence.”
