Suspended prison sentence for man who grew cannabis at Portrush home

A PORTRUSH man who cultivated cannabis with a street value of £5,000 in his home has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Russell McAfee (50) of Eglinton Street in Portrush, was charged with cultivating cannabis and possession of a class ‘B’ drug.

North Antrim Magistrates Court heard that police entered the defendant’s home with a search warrant on January 26.

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Police found two areas that had been converted for the purpose of cultivating cannabis.

Eight plants, two young plants and 10 seedlings were seized along with other drugs paraphernalia.

On February 23 the defendant was arrested, and during interview he admitted the offence.

A solicitor for the defendant told the court that his client had been growing the cannabis for his own ‘personal use’.

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He referred to a report from McAfee’s doctor which confirmed that he had problems with pain management.

The solicitor added that McAfee self medicated and had found cannabis helped with pain relief.

District Judge, Richard Wilson, said: “ You should control your medicating to what is prescribed by your GP not what your grow.”

McAfee was given a three month prison sentence suspended for two years and fined 300. A disposal order was sought for the drugs.

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