Man ‘grew cannabis for his own use’

A CASTLEROCK man who converted a bedroom in his house to grow cannabis for his ‘own personal use’ has been fined £500.

Dennis Lonsdale (40) of Bogtown Terrace appeared at North Antrim Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday possessing a Class B controlled drug and cultivation cannabis.

The court heard that during a search at the defendant’s address on June 9 officers found that a bedroom had been converted to grow cannabis.

They found three plants of approximately 10 inches in height and 22 seedlings. Officers estimated that if these were to mature they would have a street value of £14,000.

Lonsdale was arrested and made full admissions, under interview though he said they were for his own personal use which is why they were only mini plants.

Defence said this was not a sophisticated operation and that there was no harvested cannabis found at the property.

Court heard that Lonsdale had a long time cannabis problem, but this was a wake up call for him and he was now trying to break the cycle.

District Judge, Richard Wilson, fined the defendant £250 on each charge and told him he didn’t want to hear of him being involved with cannabis again.