'Cannabis was grown to ease arthritis pain'
A 63-YEAR-OLD man has said that more than 50 cannabis plants found growing on his property were to help treat his heart condition and arthritis.
A 63-YEAR-OLD man has said that more than 50 cannabis plants found growing on his property were to help treat his heart condition and arthritis.
Richard Neil Stephen Keidan, of St David's Street in Carmarthen, pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates' Court to a single count of cannabis production.
Prosecution solicitor Vaughan Pritchard Jones said: "On September 4 the police executed a police warrant at 8.30am.
"They found 51 cannabis plants. They said they were between 1-1.2 metres high. At first sight it seems like a lot of cannabis and reasonably sized plants.
"The police did not bother to send them away for any kind of analysis. There is no suggestion of trying to sell them on."
The court heard how police were satisfied that the drugs were for Keidan's own use and that he had no intention of selling the drug.
Mr Jones said: "He accepted producing them and watering them from seed but police did not put anything to him when he said it was for his personal use."
Keidan had been growing some in a polytunnel outside and some were growing among vegetables. Many of the plants turned out to be dead on further inspection.
Defence solicitor Mike Reed said Keidan was aware that it was illegal to grow the Class B drug but he found it was particularly useful when it came to treating pain from his heart condition and arthritis.
District judge David Parsons said: "Although there was a significant amount of plants it is not suggested that it was for retail purposes. It was all for personal use."
Keidan was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis plants.
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