A man whose cannabis-smoking escalated following his father’s tragic death decided to grow the drug himself.
Police found 16 cannabis plants grown by Lee Macdonald in an upstairs bedroom at an address in Bolsover, Chesterfield magistrates heard.
Police estimated the plants could have yielded up to £9,000 in one-ounce street deals but it was accepted Macdonald had grown them for his own use.
Macdonald, 26, of New Bolsover, Bolsover, admitted producing cannabis on November 16. He had no previous convictions.
Deputy District Judge Andrew Davison ordered him to do 120 hours unpaid work and pay a £60 victims-of-crime surcharge, plus £85 costs. The plants will be destroyed.
Probation officer Jerry Starnes said Macdonald started smoking cannabis at 16 and was buying up to £150 worth of the drug a week.
He said cannabis helped him to cope with his father’s death six years ago, adding: “He decided to have a go at growing his own. He has stopped using it since his arrest.”
Denney Lau, for Macdonald, said: “His father died tragically, crossing the road and being hit by a motorist. His recreational drug use increased to the point where he needed to grow his own.
“He lost his accommodation as a result of the offence and very much regrets what he has done,” he said.