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A schizophrenic man who used cannabis as medication has been curfewed after being caught with £750 worth of the drug.

David Larcombe was found with 74 grams on cannabis in July last year, just days after being fined by magistrates for possessing the drug.

He told police he bought his new supply for £300 and was planning to use it all himself to treat anxiety arising from his psychological condition.

Larcombe, aged 45, of Abbey Road, Torquay admitted possession of cannabis after a more serious charge of drug dealing was dropped at Exeter Crown Court.

He was curfewed for ten weeks under a six month community order by Judge Timothy Rose, who warned him that he must stop using cannabis.

He said:"You had a very heavy cannabis habit and are still using it. The problem is that it is against the law. It is almost certain to exacerbate the symptoms rather than relieve them."

Mr Robert Yates, prosecuting, said police went to check on Larcombe's welfare at his former home in Merritt Road, Paignton, at 1.30 pm on July 10 last year and seized 74.27 grams of cannabis.

The drugs had a potential street value of £750 but he said he had bought them in bulk for £300 and intended to use the cannabis for personal medical purposes.

Mr Martin Salloway, defending, asked the judge to take note of a probation report which said Larcombe suffers from social anxiety and chose to use cannabis rather than prescribed tranquilisers as medication for a schizophrenic condition.

He is trying to reduce his intake and is willing to work with his doctor and drug counsellors in the future.