Cannabis grower caught out

Police found a cannabis cultivation valued in the range of £15,000 to £46,000 within a Hamilton house.

Accused Thomas Mccrorie last week admitted a charge of producing the class-b drug at his Bute Street home in Whitehill between December 13, 2015, and July 6, 2016.

Fiscal depute Callum Forsyth told Sheriff David Bicket at Hamilton Sheriff Court last Friday that police officers attended at Mccrorie’s Bute Street home at 7.45am on July 6 last year with a search warrant.

When officers entered the property they detected a strong smell of cannabis. Mccrorie was found inside the house and detained.

Mr Forsyth said a systematic search of the house was carried out and a cannabis cultivation was found in the two separate growing areas within the loft along with items like lights, fans, heaters and plant food.

The fiscal depute said 76 plants were recovered and the cultivation dismantled. The stock unit, said Mr Forsyth, estimated each plant to be between £200 and £600.

The full value of the plants was £15,200 - £45,600.

Mccrorie was taken to Hamilton Police office for interview. He made no reply to caution and charge. The accused’s not guilty plea to a charge of being concerned in the supply of the drug at the Bute Street house was accepted by the Crown.

Sheriff Bicket deferred sentence on Mccrorie until April 26 for a criminal justice social work report. Bail was continued meantime.

He continued a Crown motion for a suspended forfeiture order for the sum of £1780, but granted a motion for an order amounting to £200.