Drug factory in Bridge of Earn

Electricity supply was bypassed

Police uncovered a smallscale cannabis factory in a Bridge of Earn man’s house after he initially blocked their entry by applying the security chain.

The electricity supply had been bypassed at 46-year-old Ivor Devlin’s home in Paradise Avenue - and nine cannabis plants were seized, along with several items of drugs paraphernalia.

Officers also took possession of £1115 in cash, found in the kitchen, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

The discoveries led to Devlin being jailed for 26-and-a-half months when he appeared on indictment this week.

The court heard that he had already been jailed for two years in February, 2011, for being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

He admitted producing the controlled class B drug at his home on February 23 this year.

Not guilty pleas were accepted to three other charges, including one of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

It had been alleged that knowing police were attempting to effect entry to the premises, he intentionally tried to destroy evidence of a crime by breaking a mobile phone in half and placing it in a toilet.

It had also been claimed that he put a quantity of brown powder in the toilet.

Further charges alleged that he had the class C drug zopiclone in his possession and that he bypassed the meter, stealing a quantity of electricity.

Depute fiscal John Malpass said police turned up at his home at 6.30am on February 23 with a view to executing an outstanding apprehension warrant on him.

There was no reply to their “repeated knocking.”

But someone could be heard inside placing an object behind the door and applying the security chain, denying their entry.

Police summoned a joiner and they managed to gain access at 8am.

The accused, who lived alone, was in the living room and was arrested.

A drugs search warrant was later obtained and nine cannabis plants were recovered, along with power and lighting units, plant pots, irrigation trays and an extractor fan.

Solicitor David Holmes submitted that the number of plants was at “the lower end of the scale.”

His client hadn’t been working at the time and had suffered an injury to his back.

In addition to the jail term, Sheriff Gillian Wade made a compensation order for £1115 in favour of Scottish and Southern Energy and directed that the cash found in the accused’s home be paid to them to cover the cost of the stolen electricity.

Police summoned a joiner and managed to gain access