News / Grave stoned
TWO Shetland funeral directors were fined at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday after they admitted growing cannabis.
The men were arrested after police smelt the Class B drugs as they walked past 41 year old James Goudie’s flat, at Goudies Funeral Directors, on Lerwick’s King Harald Street, on 17 June this summer.
The court heard that Goudie and his 45 year old colleague Douglas Brown, of 23 Russell Crescent, Lerwick, had acquired their horticultural skills on the internet and the eight plants they produced grew far more successfully than they had expected.
“It was a small amount of plants…but they grew a lot better than expected given it was their first go,” defence agent Tommy Allan said, adding that they had produced them purely forfor personal use.
He said that Brown was dedicated to his job and had been open with his employers, who had taken the issue very seriously but had given him their full support..
Brown was full of remorse for what he had done and was “devastated” by the impact the case was having on his family and everyone who relied upon him.
“It would be reasonable to assume you will not see Mr Brown in court again,” Mr Allan said.
The lawyer added that Goudie was “in a state of shock” about what had happened, and was very aware that had let down other people who were relying upon him.
Sheriff Philip Mann described Brown and Goudie as “men of standing and good character” who had received “excellent social work reports”, but had “succumbed to temptation”.
He said that as this was their first offence and the cannabis was for personal use he would only fine then £800 each, though Goudie was fined an extra £100 after he pled guilty to possessing drugs.
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