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A ROYAL Mail worker caught with a cannabis farm worth £9,800 in his home claims he was using the drugs as pain relief for ongoing back and leg conditions, a court heard.
Police found 35 cannabis plants inside Geoff Nicholson’s home in Southend Road, Wickford, after raiding the property.
Basildon Crown Court heard yesterday how the plants were discovered in two separate rooms, while loose bags of cannabis were also found in other parts of the home on December 23, 2018.
Nicholson avoided jail during yesterday’s hearing, as judge Samantha Cohen accepted his reasons for having the cannabis.
Nicholson, who was unrepresented in court, said: “It was just for me as I have a bad back and knee.
“It was just to relieve the pain. I was an idiot and shouldn’t have done it.
“It was just to ease the pain. I work for Royal Mail and drive the lorries.”
Prosecutor Simeon Wallis added: “He said it was for his own use in a prepared statement before a no-comment interview.
“Experts say it was enough for personal use but would have been very high personal use.
“The minimum value of the yield from the plants was £9,800.”
Nicholson, who admitted being concerned in production of a controlled Class B drug at a previous hearing, was handed a six-month community order and fined £100 fine.
Judge Cohen said: “I accept your mitigation about why you were growing this and I am satisfied you are telling the truth.
“Cannabis is illegal and you admitted the charge in the magistrates’ court as soon as you were able to.
“That gives you full credit.
I order forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.”
As part of the same hearing, his co-defendant Matthew Watson, 34, of Egbert Gardens, Wickford, admitted possession of cocaine and was sentenced to two weeks in jail.
Watson was found with 4.75 grams of cocaine, estimated to have a street value of £475.
