Police found cannabis being grown when they searched a home in Castletown, a court heard.

Shannon William Bolton, aged 25, of Malew Street, was handed a conditional discharge after admitting offences of cultivating cannabis and possession.

We previously reported how Bolton’s address was searched on August 1 after police received information that he was growing cannabis.

Officers found three plants and Bolton told them that he grew the plants for personal use to save having to buy the drug.

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He added that he was going to get rid of them as two of them had grown too large.

The court heard that the plants were too immature to enable police to provide an estimate as to their yield.

On September 17, Bolton was at police headquarters in relation to another matter on August 1 when a grinder and a small amount of cannabis were found in his rucksack.

He told police the drug was worth only between £2 and £5.

Defence advocate Louise Cooil said: ’This is a young man who does use cannabis.

’He has attempted to grow a very small number of plants. It was a very unsophisticated attempt at cultivation.

’He was using around £60 per fortnight and he attempted to grow his own from seeds to keep costs down.’

Ms Cooil went on to say that appearing in court had been a ’clarifying experience’ for her client.

’He is attempting to work on his cannabis use. He knows he needs to address it. It was something that occurred over a very short period of time, only six weeks.

’There was no hydroponic equipment. The seeds were bought off the internet. He was attempting to dispose of the plants.’

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes sentenced Bolton to a two-year conditional discharge for each of the offences of cultivation and possession, to run concurrently.

He must also pay £250 prosecution costs.