A 30-year-old man who converted two of the bedrooms in his house to grow cannabis claims the five kilos he was caught with was “for his own consumption”.
Paulius Juozapaitis, of the Derbyshire town of Heanor in the UK, slept on a sofa bed in the lounge with his partner because the third bedroom was used to store materials used to grow the crop – worth an estimated £40,000 on the street, reports the Ilkeston Advertiser.
Paul McLeod, defending, told Derby Magistrates’ Court: “While he has pleaded guilty to production of cannabis, what he does not accept is that he was growing it to sell on.
“He is adamant it was for his own consumption and nothing else.
“He says there is nothing on his mobile phone, which has been seized by the police, to suggest he was selling it to anyone else.”
Lithuanian Juozapaitis pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis. He claimed he did not know it was illegal in the UK.
Mr McLeod added: “Curiosity killed the cat. He was curious, he smoked cannabis and he grew it for himself.”
Lynn Bickley, prosecuting, said officers executed a warrant at the home on October 16 after a tip-off about the cannabis.
She added that the electricity had been bypassed, the windows sealed, and lights and insulation installed.
Magistrates committed the case to Derby Crown Court for a further hearing in November.
