A "distinguished" old soldier who grew and smoked his own cannabis to help him cope with his memories of serving in Northern Ireland during the Troubles has been spared jail.
John Hoey, 64, was found with a "plantation" of herbal cannabis, estimated by police to be worth nearly £12,500, at his home in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire.
Falkirk Sheriff Court heard officers called at Hoey's home in response to reports of a "strong smell" of cannabis and found 31 plants.
Hoey told cops: "I only grew it for my own use as I've got pain and PTSD from the Army."
Hoey, of Almond Street, Grangemouth pleaded guilty to producing a controlled drug.
The cultivation was discovered on December 17th, 2019.
His solicitor, Simon Hutchison, told the court: "The explanation why there was so much is that he grows one lot, once, so as, hopefully, not to annoy the neighbours.
"Instead of rearing four plants every month or couple of months he grew all these plants at once to try and stop the neighbours from finding out. It didn't work, of course. They did find out, and somebody reported him."
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Mr Hutchison added: "He is a man with a distinguished Army record. He was nine years in the Army.
"He saw terrible things in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland was particularly stressful and has resulted in the PTSD which he suffers from. He tends to self-medicate for it. That may be wrong in law, but that's his position and it always has been his position."
Sheriff Derek Livingston fined Hoey £840.
He told him: "I'm dealing with you on the basis this was for your own use, but it was a substantial amount whatever way you look at it."
