Hash farmer claims he’s ‘too ill’ for punishment

Drug grower turned kid’s bedroom into full-scale operation

A yob who turned a five- year- old’s bedroom into a hash farm is asking a court to spare him unpaid work duties.

John Docherty, 59, admitted neglecting a youngster at a house he adapted for cannabis cultivation.

Docherty had bypassed the electricity meter and transformed the child’s bedroom into a full-scale cannabis cultivation in Foxbar.

The room was equipped with a heat lamp, an electric fan, nutrient trays, a transformer and planters containing 24 fully-grown cannabis plants worth up to £14,000.

He appeared at court for sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of using the property to produce the Class-B drug.

He also admitted wilfully neglecting a child by causing unnecessary suffering to their health by failing to provide adequate care and allowing the child to reside at a house used for cannabis cultivation.

Docherty was placed on a tag for nine months, requiring him to remain indoors between 7pm and 7am each day. He was also handed 200 hours unpaid work to be completed within 12 months.

This week, he appeared in the dock before Sheriff Tom McCartney where it was claimed he is too ill to continue with his unpaid work.

Defence agent Kirsty McGeehan said: “It is clear from the report that, notwithstanding his health, he has continued to attend the unpaid work appointments.

“He has made an effort to engage.

“But, given the deterioration in his heath, I would ask the court to give consideration to imposing an alternative sentence.”

Sheriff McCartney told Docherty: “Clearly a Community Payback Order with unpaid work was imposed with supervision and a Restriction of Liberty Order as this was a matter on indictment.

“I consider the information placed before me at present to be fairly superficial.

“It lacks substance and I would ask whether consideration would have been given to his fitness for light duties.

“The report is very short. It tells he cannot manage to carry out community service.

“It is not entirely clear there is a medical reason and I need clearer information on it.”

Sheriff McCartney continued the case to get more details from Docherty’s doctor.

He will discover the ruling on October 22.