Gardener grew thousands of pounds worth of cannabis

An Angus man used a shed at an Angus estate to grow thousands of pounds worth of cannabis while he was employed there as a gardener.

Michael Aiton, 53, of North Lodge, Forfar, grew the cannabis at Invereighty Estate for his personal use to ease back pain, the town’s sheriff court heard.

He admitted growing the drug between September 1 2015 and August 29 2016 at the walled estate, four miles south of Forfar.

Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said: ““He said it was for use and that it was all his fault and that he’d just been stupid.

“The accused fully co-operated with police. When asked how long he had been growing cannabis, he said just short of a year.”

Aiton’s defence agent said he had never troubled the courts before and that he had started taking cannabis in response to back pain suffered for a number of years.

“He has lost his employment and is currently out of work,” she said.

Sheriff Pino Di Emidio said he would defer sentence for two weeks so Aiton’s suitability for unpaid work could be assessed.

He deferred sentence until January 19.