Firefighters spotted cannabis plants as they tackled home blaze

A large blaze broke out in a Fife man’s home after a firework was put through his letterbox, a court has heard.

Things went from bad to worse for Ross Quinn when firefighters saw cannabis plants in the house and informed the police.

Quinn, 35, whose address was given in court as Carnock Road, Gowkhall, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on November 8 at Timmons Park, Lochgelly, which was his previous address, he produced the controlled drug cannabis.

At 3.30am firefighters from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were called to a report of a blaze at the home of Quinn.

When putting out the fire, the fire personnel spotted what was described as a small cannabis cultivation in the attic and police officers were subsequently informed of the find.

Police were granted a search warrant and visited the property at a later date.

“There were two plants in the attic, both in a very poor condition,” said depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf.

Defence solicitor James Moncrieff said his client had since moved house and was now living at his mother’s address.

“He had to move because of the fire,” the solicitor went on,” he said.

“Somebody put a firework through his letterbox and a fire started.

“After that he didn’t feel safe there.”

Mr Moncrieff added that the cannabis cultivation was not a particularly sophisticated operation.

“It was a very poor attempt to grow these plants,” he said.

Sheriff Craig McSherry fined Quinn £300 for producing the drug.