A shepherd who produced cannabis with a potential value of £3,000 in a rented shipping container has been sentenced to a community payback order with 80 hours of unpaid work.
William Moscrop grew 10 plants at East Mills Stables, Liddesdale Road, Hawick, between April 17 and July 17 last year.
The 54-year-old, of Burnhead Road, Hawick, admitted producing the class-B drug for his own use in a bid to save money.
Graham Fraser, prosecuting at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, said: “He approached a friend and asked to rent a shipping container he had outside a stables area. His friend noticed him coming and going, but didn’t know what was going on.”
Police received information about a cannabis cultivation and during a search of the premises discovered the plants being grown there.
Mr Fraser explained: “He told police he was a user and there is no allegation of any commercial gain or supply. He said that he saved £200 a month by growing his own plants.”
The prosecutor said the potential value of each plant was between £150 and £300.
Moscrop’s solicitor, Rory Bannerman, said his client had been using cannabis for the last 15 years and decided to grow it for himself, adding: “He was trying to save himself money. He normally works as a shepherd, although his regular employer retired.”
Sheriff John Halley warned Moscrop: “You have pled guilty to a serious offence.
“In our society we look upon the production of drugs as criminal, and it doesn’t matter that it is for your personal use.
“You have a concerning list of convictions and I could justify dealing with this in a more serious manner.
“If you come before the court again for this kind of matter, you may well find yourself spending time in custody.”