A 52-year-old man who grew cannabis at his home in Glen Maye has been fined £1,250.

Shaun Yates admitted having six plants when police executed a search warrant at his address.

Yates said that he used the drug to self-medicate for anxiety and depression.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court how police executed the warrant at Yates’ home on Sound Road at 9.10am on May 19 last year.

Yates was not present at the address but his partner was.

Three cannabis plants were found in a greenhouse and Yates was contacted and arrested.

He said: ’I self-medicate for my anxiety and depression but the police have taken that all away now.’

The search found a further three plants in a tent with what was described as an unsophisticated hydroponic set up, which included lighting and a fan.

Scales were also found with several jars containing cannabis in a conservatory.

Some of the cannabis was said to be spoiled and of no value, but the overall haul was valued by police at £3,951.

In court, Yates pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis and possessing it.

Mr Swain submitted that the case was suitable for summary court sentencing.

The court heard that Yates’ last conviction was in 2010 but he has no previous drug-related convictions.

A probation report said that Yates was a self-employed builder who had lived on the island for 25 years.

The report said that community service would not be suitable as he already worked five and a half days per week.

A financial penalty was recommended as the most appropriate sentence.

Defence advocate Jim Travers asked the court to follow the recommendation of the report.

He said: ’This appears to be something of an unsophisticated home set up, in a remote location, for his own medicinal purposes.’

The advocate asked for credit to be given for his client’s early guilty pleas.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that she had taken into account Yates’ lack of previous convictions and would treat the incident as a ’one-off’.

She fined him £1,000 for cultivating cannabis and £250 for possessing it.

He was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs and will pay all amounts at a rate of £500 per month.