A MAN who pleaded guilty to growing several cannabis plants at his home will re-appear in court later this month - after claiming he was producing the drug for his terminally ill wife.
Colin Tait, 57, of Brierley Road, Grimethorpe, had 17 cannabis plants seized from three tents in an outbuilding on April 5, 2018, along with stocks of plant food, soil and a water filtration system.
Barnsley Magistrates’ Court was told on Wednesday that if the plants had grown to full maturity, they would have been worth £17,850 on the open market.
But John Evans, defending, said Tait had been growing the cannabis for his own personal use and that of his wife, who has terminal cancer.
Mr Evans added: “He told police he was aware it was an offence, but he had been told by a friend he could grow nine plants for personal use.
“Is anybody going to send a man to jail for growing cannabis for his terminally ill wife?”
The case was adjourned until November 21 to allow Tait to provide medical evidence to the Probation Service for its pre-sentence report.
