Hello officer, my cannabis plants have been stolen

A MAN is facing jail after he reported the theft of his cannabis plants.

Police were called to David Williamson’s home earlier this year to investigate reports that he had been assaulted and robbed.

But after Williamson volunteered that it was two of his prized cannabis plants which had been stolen, suspicious officers got a warrant to search the 34-year-old’s Edinburgh home and discovered a further 20 plants.

Williamson was immediately arrested.

The case caused barely disguised mirth among lawyers and officials at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, when Williamson admitted producing a controlled drug at his Sighthill home in May this year.

Fiscal depute Dev Kapadia said the circumstances leading to Williamson’s arrest were “rather bizarre”.

He added: “The police had received an anonymous call reporting a disturbance and when they arrived at the scene Williamson talked to the police.

“He said he had been the subject of an assault and robbery, and some cannabis plants had been stolen from him.

“Police officers then took the view that there may be some production ongoing and obtained a warrant.”

Mr Kapadia said 20 plants, some seedlings and cultivating equipment were recovered from Williamson’s Edinburgh home. “Williamson subsequently admitted ownership of the cultivation and told police that he grew his own cannabis to feed his habit,” he added.

The drugs were potentially worth £3000. Seedlings found at his home were worth an estimated £900, he added.

Sheriff Isabella McColl gave a wry smile as she asked Williamson’s defence agent, Robbie Burnett, for his client’s side of the story.

Mr Burnett offered no explanation for Williamson’s unprompted confession to the police who went to his home.

But he revealed his client, who suffers from hepatitis C, was an authority on cannabis.

He said: “During the course of the interview with police, my client demonstrated a remarkably detailed knowledge of cannabis – the different strains and the different purposes to which it could be put.

“Mr Williamson discovered that if he grew a particular strain he could suppress the hepatitis C. His position is that when he is given the opportunity to do so, he is hoping to live in Holland, where all these activities are lawful and where he can treat himself without breaking the law.”

Sheriff Isabella McColl deferred sentence for reports until next month.

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