An Aberdeen man was caught growing cannabis in his flat after he stopped paying his energy bills.
Lewis Clark’s stash of illicit plants was discovered when a Scottish Gas worker and a locksmith entered his flat on Jasmine Place in search of payment last year.
The 24-year-old labourer admitted the crime when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
Depute fiscal Christy Ward said the pair had knocked on Clark’s front door on April 12 after he was late with his payments.
But while they could hear loud music from inside, no-one was answering – prompting them to pick the lock and make their way inside.
After crossing the threshold they heard the sound of electric fans and, venturing into the bedroom, they discovered a large tent with cannabis growing inside.
Later that day four police officers arrived and searched the property – seizing 76 items including as many as 12 plants and saplings from Clark’s home in the process.
He later turned himself in at Kittybrewster Police Station.
Sheriff Andrew Miller noted that while Clark did have drugs offences on his criminal record, the most recent was from 2014.
He also said that while his cultivation of crops was “significant” in size, it was all for personal use – rather than to be sold on.
Clark was sentenced to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work over the next eight months.