News / Cannabis growers escape jail
TWO HEAVY cannabis users who have been growing their own supply narrowly escaped jail sentences when they appeared for sentencing before Lerwick Sheriff Court, on Wednesday.
In two separate cases, Richard Alan Ball, of 39 Dalsetter Wynd, Dunrossness, and Malcolm Stove, of 7 Veester Hill, Sandwick had previously pled guilty to producing the class B drug at their homes earlier this year.
Sheriff Philip Mann sentenced 26 year old Ball to a nine months long community payback order including 170 hours of unpaid work.
Ball was also fined £500. The cannabis plants and all associated equipment are to be forfeited.
Forty two year old Stove meanwhile was also put on a community payback order with 170 hours of unpaid work, and also fined £500.
However, since this was Stove’s second drug related conviction he was also tagged for three months. Since he mainly works night shift, Stove have been told to stay indoors seven days a week between 9am and 3pm.
Both men were left in no doubt that their sentences were a direct alternative to prison and were told that should they breach any element of the sentence they would find themselves behind bars.
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