A Perthshire man who grew an £11,000 cannabis farm in his bedroom claimed the drug was for personal use.
James Murdoch was caught with 17 plants and several jars of herbal substance when his home was raided by police in the summer.
Despute fiscal Michael Sweeney told Perth Sheriff Court the haul was uncovered when police went to Murdoch’s house with a search warrant at around 9am on August 15 this year.
“Officers attended the property and found 17 plants within the bedroom,” said Mr Sweeney. On top of that there were also 11 large jars containing green herbal matter.
“Police ascertained that each plant would have a potential value of £660 if it had yielded it’s full value – in total that’s over £11,000.
Solicitor Paul Ralph said Murdoch had been growing the plant because he suffered from pain, including in his hip.
He said: “There’s a therapeutic purpose behind it. While that does not excuse it, it does explain what was going on.”
The 62-year-old admitted producing cannabis at his home in Servite Court, Braco.
He was convicted of similar offences at the High Court more than 30 years ago.
Sheriff Richard McFarlane warned Murdoch he could be facing jail when he returns to court to be sentenced.
He said: “This is a significant result from police executing a search warrant. This would appear to be repeat offending, with an offence in the High Court in a Edinburgh in 1985.
“It may be that a custodial sentence is the only outcome.”
Sentence was deferred for the preparation of reports.
