Powys man grew cannabis to treat high blood pressure, stress and depression

A man grew cannabis so that he could treat himself for high blood pressure, stress and depression, a court has heard.

Ricky Wilde, 46, of Bettws Cedewain, near Newtown, Powys was discovered growing cannabis plants at his home.

The prosecution at Mold Crown Court accepted that it was not being grown commercially, but for his own use.

Wilde admitted a charge of cultivating the class B drug and abstracting electricity. Sentence was adjourned.

James Couttes, prosecuting, told the court that when police searched Wilde's home they found 35 plants.

Wilde admitted that it was his second crop. He said that 16 plants had survived from the first crop.

Skunk cannabis

Mr Couttes said the plants were valued at between £4,100 and £7,500.

But if they were sold in individual deals on the street then the cannabis could be valued at between £19,000 and £27,000, the court heard.

However, Mr Couttes stressed that there was no evidence, apart from the volume of plants, to indicate that it was anything other than personal use.

There were no dealer's lists or paraphernalia.

Oliver King, defending, said his client disputed the valuations given by the police.

Only some plants survived in the first harvest, and not all of them would have survived in the second.

Wilde's defence will obtain medical evidence by the sentencing hearing to show that he suffered from high blood pressure, depression and stress.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/8436068.stm