Former soldier grew cannabis to save cash

A former soldier who found himself in double trouble with the law has now rid himself of a cannabis habit costing £250 a week and stopped drinking.
Blackpool Magistrates' CourtBlackpool Magistrates' Court
Blackpool Magistrates' Court

Philip Porter was first arrested after police found him growing cannabis plants in his bedroom. He was pulled in again after rampaging around his pregnant girlfriend’s bedroom smashing furniture.

Porter, 30, of Porter Street East, Wesham, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis, abstracting electricity and causing damage.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was sentenced to a 12 months community order with up to 35 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, fined £50 with £100 compensation and ordered to pay a £180 court charge with £85 costs plus £60 victims’ surcharge by District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor, Philip Hall, said police and paramedics were called to reports of a stabbing at Porter’s address on June 7. Officers found nine cannabis plants growing in a rear bedroom, with heating, lighting and fans,

Porter told police he had a cannabis habit costing £250 a week. He had decided to grow his own to save money.

On June 11 Porter had been out drinking when he was invited to the Fleetwood home of his three-months pregnant girlfriend. They had an argument and Porter smashed a mirror and chest-of-drawers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Angela Rossi, defending, said her client, who had been in the Army for six years beforeleaving in January, had been using cannabis recreationally for a long time. He had now stopped using the drug and stopped drinking.

Related topics: