A MAN caught in a police drugs raid that netted a single cannabis plant has escaped with a conditional discharge.
Lascell Allison, 43, of Littlejohn Avenue, Melksham, was watching Emmerdale on TV when officers broke his door down searching for drugs.
They found one cannabis plant, which Allison admitted cultivating when he appeared before magistrates in Chippenham on Thursday.
In interview he told police he had been growing the plant for his own use, feeding it with Miracle-Gro plant food, as buying the drug was too expensive.
Matthew Drew, defending, said: "Mr Allison is a Rastafarian and has smoked cannabis since he was 19.
"It is a part of his religion. He has never been involved in supplying drugs and has never been arrested or convicted in relation to drugs.
"He has never tried any other drugs and has no desire to do so."
Mr Drew said his client was sitting at home watching Emmerdale when police broke the door down.
He said: "He tells me that after this experience he will not be growing any more plants."
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