Cannabis-growing pensioner jailed

Derek Wormald, 70, of Easterton Farm Cottage, Glenluce, admitted producing the drug at his home between September last year and February this year.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard the judge had considered an alternative sentence to avoid imprisonment.

However, Lord Wheatley decided that because of the serious nature of the offence he had to give a jail term.

The judge told Wormald that he accepted that others were involved and pressure had been put on him.

"It was a matter of some relief to him that he was arrested by the police"
Brian Gilfedder, defending

He added: "At the end of the day it has to be accepted you participated in the production of a prohibited drug."

Defence solicitor, advocate Brian Gilfedder, had urged the judge not to jail Wormald and to consider community service as an alternative to prison.

He had argued that the case could be seen as an "exceptional" one which would justify a non-custodial sentence.

Mr Gilfedder pointed out that Wormald had no record of criminal offending at all.

"He has been assessed as a low risk of reoffending," he said.

Mr Gilfedder said the potential street worth of the crop was a maximum value if all plants had reached maturity, which they had not when Wormald was arrested.

The cannabis was growing in three rooms, with 15 plants near maturity in one, a second batch of 12 plants were in another and 75 very small plants were in a "nursery room".

'Very stupid'

Mr Gilfedder said Wormald did not stand to make any money out of the cannabis crop.

The defence lawyer said the pensioner had allowed himself to get caught up "in something very serious but also very stupid".

"It was a matter of some relief to him that he was arrested by the police," he added.

Lord Wheatley told Wormald that if he had been convicted of the offence after trial, rather than pleading guilty, he could have expected an 18-month prison sentence.

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