Matthew Dean of Mary’s Court, Middleton, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis plants.[1] Police had attended Dean’s address on September 25 after noticing a strong smell of cannabis.[1] Prosecutor Jessica Neequaye said officers who entered the address found black bags containing cannabis and arrested the 55-year-old Dean.[1] After he was taken into custody, Dean admitted buying cannabis seeds online with the intention of growing them for his own use.[1]
Magistrates ordered Dean to pay a £392 fine, £85 in court costs and a £157 victim surcharge.[1] The court also ordered that the drugs be forfeited and destroyed.[1]
When interviewed, Dean made a full admission and said he uses large quantities of the drug.[1] The court heard Dean has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and finds cannabis helps him settle and sleep.[1] Dean also has chronic back pain from a work injury as a factory operative and finds the drug helps with that pain.[1] His solicitor told the court Dean has reduced but not stopped his use and hopes to stop fully soon.[1] Dean has three previous convictions resulting from nine offences.[1]
