A 27-year-old Newtownbutler man accused of growing cannabis in his garden shed has pleaded guilty to the offence at Enniskillen Magistrates Court.
Ryan McDermott, of Knockadore, Drumclay, was also charged with possession of the class B controlled drug.
The court heard that on April 28 police were on patrol in the Newtownbutler area shortly after 5am when they spotted a man driving a white van.
The officers were alerted to the van because of his driving.
After they checked the number plate registration details they established the driver’s address.
When they arrived at the defendant’s home they spotted the same white van and when they looked inside they saw a cannabis grinder.
The door of the address was open so they went in to look for the defendant and upon doing so the officers noted a strong smell of drink.
The officers carried out searches of his bedroom and discovered cannabis. They also searched a shed on his property where they found a number of cannabis plants as well as paraphernalia to cultivating cannabis.
The eight plants where found in its early stages of development.
McDermott was arrested for the offences which he admitted to during interview at a police station.
Defence solicitor Myles McManus pointed to a report from the police officers which stated that less than eight cannabis plants were found in the shed.
“He does not dismiss his responsibility to having these plants,” he said.
“He is 27-year-old and unemployed and regularly cares for his mother. The defendant has accepted that he has difficulty with an addiction to the substance.”
District Judge Nigel Broderick said that he was concerned by the accused’s ongoing issues.
“Unless these issues are addressed then the risk of reoffending is clear,” he said.
McDermott was handed a 12 month probation order and told to go to a relevant drug and alcohol programme.
A further charge of driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs was withdrawn.
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