Court adjourns sentence for reports.

A drug-user from Dunkeswell grew cannabis plants with a potential yield of 1.51kg for his own personal use, a court has heard.

Nicholas James Irvine, of Tower Way, pleaded guilty to producing the controlled class B drug when he appeared at Central Devon Magistrates’ Court in Exeter last Thursday.

Karen Ball, prosecuting, told the court that police officers executed a search warrant at the 27-year-old’s home address on May 31 and a check of the property found 19 maturing plants and three ‘mother’ plants, along with associated lighting equipment used in the cultivation of cannabis.

Dried and herbal matter was also found in the property and the two upstairs bedrooms were described as being used as ‘growing rooms’.

Irvine was subsequently arrested and, when interviewed, told police that the plants were produced from cuttings and had been for his own use. The court heard that Irvine had been using cannabis since the age of 13 and that he described it as being a “large part of his life” – using half an ounce a day.

Defending, Peter Woodley said: “It was entirely for personal use. He (Irvine) was good at growing cannabis – this was only his second crop.”

He told the court Irvine had no previous convictions.

The 27-year-old was remanded on unconditional bail for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and will appear in court tomorrow (Thursday, September 6).