The case of Richard Appleton came before Fermanagh Magistrates Court
An Irvinestown man who sold stolen metal to a scrap dealer was found to have 13 cannabis plants growing in his home as well as cultivating equipment.
Richard Appleton (41), of Spruce Hill, Drumharvey appeared in Fermanagh Magistrates Court via video link from Maghaberry to face the charges of cultivating cannabis and receiving stolen goods.
The prosecutor told the court that on August 8 2012 police received a report from the injured party that her home had been broken into.
A number of items were taken including a television, hedge clippers, copper piping, a copper cylinder and electrical wiring.
After police investigations it was later discovered that a man in a silver Vauxhall Vectra had sold some of the items to a scrap dealer in Ballinamallard for £70. The man was said to have an English accent and gave a false name.
After being spoken to police, the man, who fitted the description given by those at the scrap dealers denied being there and again gave a false name. It wasn’t until he was being led to be fingerprinted that he admitted his true identity as Richard Appleton.
When searching the defendant’s home they found 13 cannabis plants as well as cultivating equipment.
They also recovered the stolen hedgeclippers and television. Appleton denied stealing the items and said he had purchased them from a traveller on the Brownhill Link Road in Irvinestown, but gave no further details.
He admitted to having a smoking problem and said the cannabis was for his own personal use.
Garry Smyth, defending, said his client had made admissions to police and had made pleas before going to a contest, saving court time. The man from the south of England originally, came to Fermanagh eight years ago for work.
Unfortunately he had lost his job two years ago and his relationship had broken down resulting in Appleton being plunged into depression. Mr Smyth indicated that the defendant hoped to return to England and he had since turned a corner and was back in employment.
District Judge Liam McNally took into account the pleas of guilty and the fact he had nothing previous of this nature on his record. He imposed a £750 fine and a six month prison sentence suspended for two years. A destruction order was also issued for the drugs.
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