A cannabis user "dropped upon the idea" to use his spare room to grow his own but was branded "a complete fool" for risking going to prison. Benjamin Usher, 30, of Gayhurst Road, Basford, had been using the drug for 11 years.
Two-and-a-half years ago police executed a search warrant at his then rented three-bedroom semi-detached in Charlbury Road, Wollaton. Officers found 11 plants, potentially worth between £1,700 and £5,200, at varying heights in the third bedroom during the raid on February 16, 2019.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Usher said he "dropped upon the idea" a few years ago to grow cannabis and a room was turned over to growing it. He went on to plead guilty to producing cannabis, offering to supply cannabis and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
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Recorder Michael Auty QC imposed a nine month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and 150 hours of unpaid work. He said Usher was a "complete fool" in one respect because he risked going immediately to custody today (Wednesday, March 23) if the case had been brought before the court very quickly, "as it should have been".
But he decided to spare him from the prison gates after hearing the defendant now has a good job, He is working hard and making a real contribution to society. Sending him to prison now, two-and-a-half years on, would throw that all away, he added.
Usher understood what the judge had said and added from the dock: "I promise you I will not be back here, your honour".
