A 38-year-old Braintree man, who grew his own cannabis and smoked it to relieve rheumatoid arthritis, narrowly escaped jail because of the debilitating condition.

Garry Campbell, of Templar Place, was given a suspended 28-day prison sentence after admitting at Chelmsford Magistrates Court to cultivating cannabis worth £8,000.

Campbell, who walks with the aid of a crutch, also admitted possessing 3.68 grammes of cannabis resin, valued between £1,234 and £1,600 and 2.89 grammes of herbal cannabis, worth £10, for which he was not given a separate sentence.

Chairman of the bench, John Flack said: "Because of the exceptional circumstances of your case we are taking a highly exceptional decision and suspending your sentence, but if you are ever involved again in cultivating cannabis you will go to prison."

Nneka Akudolu, prosecuting, said Essex police searched Campbell's home on February 5 and discovered cannabis growing in a cupboard, shed and in the back garden as well as hydroponic equipment being used to cultivate cannabis indoors.

Peter Barlex, mitigating, said while Campbell admitted cultivating cannabis, it was being grown by somebody else who used to live with him.Campbell returned from Spain where he went to ease his arthritis in the warm weather and found the plants and hydroponic system just four days before the police raid.Mr Barlex said: "To assist pain relief he smokes cannabis."

Published Friday August 27, 2004

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