This is Essex --A MAN who grew 59 cannabis plants to help with pain from injuries sustained in a car crash faces a possible jail sentence.
Andrew Willis, 51, of Cumberland Crescent, Chelmsford, pleaded guilty to growing the Class B drug at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday last week.
Angela Hughes, prosecuting, said: "Police attended his address on an unrelated matter, they smelt the cannabis and Mr Willis confirmed he was growing it in a room."
On Tuesday, January 7, police discovered 51 young plants less than six inches tall and eight plants two foot high, growing in a sophisticated set-up of hot lamps and irrigation kits to mimic the plants' ideal habitat.
He was arrested that day.
Nicola Pope, mitigating, said: "You have to take into account Mr Willis said this was for a personal use and he was growing this for a condition he is suffering.
"Mr Willis is a man of no previous convictions or cautions and admitted his guilt to the police at an early stage.
"The police came to his address on an entirely separate manner regarding his lodger.
"The defendant handed them a key to the outhouse which was then accessed by the police."
She said Willis had been off work for the past eight months following a car crash in which he damaged his back.
This led to major surgery on Monday, January 13, where he had four vertebrae in his spine fused in an attempt to deal with the pain.
"He has physiotherapy every two weeks and won't know for 18 months if the operation was a success," she said.
Willis, dressed in a grey hoodie and using a crutch, grimaced with pain each time he was asked to stand during the five minute hearing.
The bench decided that the offence was outside their sentencing powers and remanded him on unconditional bail for sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court for the week starting Monday, February 10. Reported by This is 3 days ago.