A FAIFLEY man who turned to producing cannabis at his former home in Old Kilpatrick “to save money” has been spared prison for the crime.

Police found a quantity of the class B drug at the flat occupied by Mark Connelly in the village in May of last year, along with plant pots, power packs and an extractor fan.

Connelly, 30, appeared for sentencing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last Friday after pleading guilty to charges of producing and possessing controlled drugs.

Following his guilty plea, sentence was deferred until the hearing to allow social workers time to prepare a background report.

Meghan Glancey, prosecuting, told the court police with a search warrant had recovered 48.65 grams of cannabis, with an estimated value of around £400, from a drawer under Connelly’s bed when they searched the Freelands Crescent property on May 25, 2018.

Ms Glancey said: “When asked if he was growing, he said ‘yes, I had nine cannabis plants for personal use’.”

Judith Reid, defending, said Connelly, now of Abbeylands Road in Faifley, had pleaded guilty to both charges at the first opportunity.

She said: “He has been entirely candid with police and the social work department that he had taken to growing this to save himself some money.

“There has since been a change in attitude. He works full-time and has placed his employment very much at risk through his behaviour.

“He seems to have been living a perfectly law-abiding life aside from his use of cannabis.

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“He recognises the effect of drugs in general upon the community, and so I would submit that unpaid hours of work in the community would be an appropriate recompense.”

Sheriff William Gallacher told Connelly: “You have caused harm in the community.”

He was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative to custody.