A man who had four cannabis plants at his home has been sentenced to 80 hours community service.

Steven Eric Curtis, of Lord Street, Douglas, admitted cultivating the class B drug, which was valued at £3,970.

Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court how police were at 38-year-old Curtis’s home on March 31 at 7pm in relation to another matter.

There was said to be a smell of cannabis on the premises and in a bedroom police found four full grown plants with hydroponics equipment.

When interviewed Curtis answered ’no comment’ to questions and would only confirm his address.

The court heard that he has a historical previous conviction for drug trafficking.

A probation report said that Curtis said he had no intent to sell or share the cannabis and that he used it for pain relief from sciatica.

Curtis said that he had painkillers but they made him feel sick so he had been self-medicating. He said that he had decided to grow his own plants as he was unable to fund his cannabis use.

It was said that Curtis is still subject to a previous community service order which required him to do 80 hours of unpaid work, of which he has 15 hours left to complete.

Defence advocate Matthew Wilshaw asked for credit to be given for his client’s guilty plea and said that Curtis was no longer using cannabis.

Mr Wilshaw said that his client had bought the seeds and equipment for around £100.

Magistrates also ordered Curtis to pay £50 prosecution costs which he will pay at a rate of £10 per week, deducted from benefits.