The Ross-Shire Journal
A tree surgeon who was “obsessed” with growing the perfect cannabis has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative to jail.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that William Haig-Thomas (27) was supplying two friends to cover his cultivation costs and admitted he was striving to produce the best herbal drug after one customer praised him.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank was earlier told Haig-Thomas replied to the message, saying: “I will only get better at it.” Sentence had been deferred for a background report after the sheriff heard that police raided Haig-Thomas’s home at Holly House, Ardmore Road, Edderton on February 28, 2022 following a tip-off.
Fiscal depute Alison Young said a total of 21 plants were being grown in various locations in and around the property including his shed and bedroom, where various tents and heaters had been installed. Once police had gathered the plants and swept up cuttings, a total of 981.5 grams of the Class B drug were recovered with an estimated maximum street value of around £19,000.
Mrs Young said: “A mobile phone was also recovered. It showed messages between November 16, 2021 and February 28, 2022 and it is accepted he was supplying two people. One message read: ‘The stuff is excellent.’ He replied: ‘I will only get better at it.’ He was arrested and charged and at a second police interview, he made full admissions to police.
“He denied he was dealing drugs but confirmed he was supplying to two friends. He said he would get petrol money if he delivered.”
Haig-Thomas also told the police that he “became obsessive about growing cannabis and he was trying to grow the perfect plant”.
Defending, Patrick O’Dea said his client realised that he was going to have to reduce his use of cannabis with a view to removing his dependency.
“The requests for cannabis were always asked for by his friends and he never offered the drug. It was a limited enterprise and he charged a minimal amount.”
Sheriff Cruickshank said he accepted that Haig-Thomas indulged in “social supply covering his costs” and confiscated all the plants and paraphernalia.
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