A 41-year-old butcher has been fined £1,000 for cultivating six cannabis plants.
Stuart Colin Powlesland, of Tramman Close, Douglas, admitted the offence as well as one of possessing £57-worth of cannabis for which he was fined an additional £200.
Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court how police executed a search warrant at Powlesland’s home address on December 9.
He was absent at the time but police found six mature plants in a closet with hydroponics.
They also found 1.3 grams of cannabis on a sofa, and a grinder.
Powlesland was later arrested at work and taken to police headquarters.
When interviewed he admitted the offences and said that he used the drug for health issues.
A probation report said that Powlesland had been ’open and honest’ and had only been growing the plants for a short period of time.
He was said to suffer from anxiety and had been prescribed medication but had decided to come off it, instead using cannabis.
The court heard that his last conviction was in 2010 and his last drug-related conviction in 2002.
Defence advocate Peter Taylor said that his client would be consulting his GP for support in future and that the room the cannabis plants were in was always kept locked due to him having a child.
Mr Taylor said that his client was claiming Employed Persons Allowance.
High Bailiff Jayne Hughes also ordered Powlesland to pay £125 prosecution costs, which he will pay along with the fine, at a rate of £20 per week, deducted from benefits.