A GREENOCK man who turned his rented flat into a private cannabis farm was only caught after the illicit cultivation sparked a blaze.

Firefighters had to force their way in to Malcolm Adams’ third-floor home in Drumfrochar Road — and then found plants and growing gear in his bedroom, living room and kitchen.

Procurator fiscal depute Joanne Gilmour told the sheriff court: “They discovered what they believed to be a cannabis cultivation.

“There was a large tent in the bedroom which contained four plants, as well as a large quantity of growing products.

“Leaves had been stripped from a further nine plants in the living room.

“There were a number of heat lamps as well as ventilation equipment both in the living room and in the kitchen.” Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher said that Adams, 37, had ‘not smoked any pot’ since the blaze in October last year.

The solicitor added: “There is no suggestion that he was growing the cannabis other than for himself.

“He had taken the view that it would help his mental health, despite there being medical evidence to the contrary.” Sentence had been deferred on Adams to ascertain his fitness to carry out unpaid work in the community.

But solicitor Mr Gallagher told the court: “The information I have is that a doctor has said that this could be detrimental to his health.” Fiscal depute Ms Gilmour stated earlier: “Scottish Fire and Rescue had attended the locus due to there being a house fire and had to force entry to the property.

“It was found that the electricity supply to the property had not been tampered with.” Sheriff Rajni Swanney remarked that it was ‘very good’ that Adams was no longer smoking cannabis.

She fined him £250 and allowed him nearly a full year to pay off the penalty at a rate of £10 per fortnight.