Mum’s the word

A Harthill drug dealer claimed his only client was his mum.

Steven Rodgers, whose address was given as HMP Addiewell, pleaded guilty to supplying the home-grown cannabis from properties in Harthill and Whitburn between March 9 and December 20 last year.

The 28-year-old’s solicitor told the court that his client suffered from type one diabetes and chronic neck pain and had resorted to self medicating with cannabis as well as supplying it to his mother.

He added: “My client and his mother both keep poor health and were really struggling to cope.

“Steven Rodgers’ mum suffers from fibromyalgia, a long- term condition that causes pain all over the body.

“They discovered cannabis eased some of their pain and he became involved in the cultivation of the drug.

“He was only supplying the drug to his mother for medical use.

“It went no further than that.”

A total of 743 grammes of cannabis was recovered from Rodgers and his solicitor claimed this was consistent with his defence of only supplying the drug to his mum.

He said his client was now living in Merseyside with his partner and his stepchildren.

Sheriff Marie Smart told Rodgers she could not condone cultivation for pain relief and he was placed on a 30-month supervision order at Hamilton Sheriff Court last Wednesday.