David Williamson jailed after reporting cannabis theft Published duration 11 October 2011

image caption About 20 cannabis plants were found at Williamson's Edinburgh home

An Edinburgh man who reported the theft of his cannabis plants to the police has been jailed for 10 months.

Sheriff Isabella McColl said she had no option but to jail David Williamson, 34, after he claimed he would continue to smoke the drug.

Police were called to Williamson's home in May 2011 to investigate reports he had been assaulted and robbed.

Williamson, from Sighthill, ended up in court for volunteering that the stolen property was his cannabis plants.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard claims that Williamson confessed to the police after his home had been raided by a gang of four men armed with guns.

Officers then got a warrant to search Williamson's home, discovering a further 20 plants.

Williamson's defence agent Robbie Burnett said his client was honest with the police because "four men had rushed in and held him at gunpoint.

'Rather bizarre'

"His position is that cannabis has assisted in his mental health and his physical health. It is his intention to go on using it. I regret that's the position," added Mr Burnett.

Fiscal depute Dev Kapadia had told the court at an earlier hearing that the circumstances leading to Williamson's arrest were "rather bizarre".

He added: "The police had received an anonymous call reporting a disturbance. And when they arrived at the scene Williamson talked to the police. He said he had been the subject of an assault and robbery and some cannabis plants had been stolen from him.

"Police officers then took the view that there may be some production ongoing and obtained a warrant."

Mr Kapadia said 20 plants, some seedlings and cultivating equipment were recovered from Williamson's home.

"Williamson subsequently admitted ownership of the cultivation, and told police that he grew his own cannabis to feed his habit," the fiscal added.

The drugs were potentially worth £3,000. Seedlings found at his home were worth an estimated £900, he added.