A 52-YEAR-OLD man who grew cannabis in his bathroom has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Jason Alexander Hepburn grew four cannabis plants at his home in St Helier, but maintained that they were for his own use.
The Magistrate’s Court heard that the police discovered the plants when they searched his home on 16 April.
Advocate Jordan Gollop, prosecuting, said: ‘There was no commercial aspect to this offence.’
He said Hepburn had a number of previous convictions for possession of cannabis and other banned drugs.
Advocate Allana Binnie, defending, argued against a prison sentence, saying: ‘His lifestyle is nothing like it was.
‘At the time he was drinking a litre of spirits a day. He is now completely abstinent from alcohol.
‘His circumstances have dramatically changed. He is cycling up to 40km every two days.’
And she added: ‘Because of the personal nature of this offence, and all the significant progress my client has made, I would submit that this case falls below the custodial threshold.’
Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris told Hepburn he got some credit for his guilty plea but added: ‘You really had little option, as the plants were growing in your bathroom.’
He accepted that Hepburn was not fit and healthy enough for a community service order, so instead imposed a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years.
He warned him not to re-offend within the suspension period, saying: ‘You’ve got a six-month prison sentence waiting for you.’
