A HORTICULTURE student grew cannabis to provide pain relief for his terminally ill mother, a court has heard.

Euan Chalmers, 25, of Archerhill Road in Knightswood, was in the dock for sentencing at Glasgow Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to producing the Class B drug.

The pocurator fscal depute told the court that 15 plants were discovered within his home.

Those plants were valued by the crown to be worth £3,000 but his defence agent Ms Graham argued that the figure could only be applied if they had grown to their full commercial value.

His defence agent, Mr Graham, explained the reason behind her client growing the plants.

She said: “It was the case his mother was terminally ill with cancer. She had been purchasing cannabis to give her little pain relief.

“It has not been for any gain. He was growing the plants to provide his mother relief.

“After she passed away, he grew the plants himself to deal with it. He is deeply remorseful.”

Ms Graham also explained that her client’s criminal justice social work report was probably the best that the court had ever seen, and explained how she also found that Chalmers was pleasant to deal with throughout the process of her taking on his case.

Sentencing Sheriff Raymond A McMenamin said: “Certainly there are substantial mitigating factors in your background. This behaviour is criminal and you indulged in that knowledge and continued to indulge after your mother passed away.”

Chalmers was fined by Sheriff McMenamin a total of £275, which was reduced from £300 because of his early plea.

Sheriff McMenamin then warned Chalmers, “It is now on your record.

“If you come before the court in the future, it will be taken more seriously.”