Man jailed for cultivating six cannabis plants, one of which was dead

Friday 15 January 2021

A 28-year-old man has been sentenced for growing cannabis as a means of pain relief.

Police Officers were tipped off to the cannabis plants in Ben Le Prevost's garden and visited the property on 24 July.

When they got closer to Le Prevost’s home, the officers could smell cannabis and on further inspection it was clear that six plants were growing in pots on Le Prevost’s property. 

He was contacted and asked to present himself to the Police Station, which he did the same weekend. Le Prevost was then arrested and charged with cultivating cannabis plants.

There were some cuttings of the plant drying inside the house, but no substantial quantities of useable cannabis.

While being interviewed, the Crown Prosecutor said Le Prevost had changed his story a number of times, initially saying the plants weren’t his and he didn’t know anything about them, before saying that he was holding them for someone he owed money to. Eventually Le Prevost admitted that they were his and he was growing them for personal use.

Pictured: Le Prevost was sent to Les Nicolles Prison. 

During the defence of his client, Advocate Paul Lockwood explained the defendant’s history of addiction to painkillers, due to a serious injury in the past.

His prescription had since run out, but his pain has continued and Le Prevost has been using cannabis as an alternative.

However Judge Graeme McKerrell sentenced Le Prevost to four months in Les Nicolles, citing a past case of breaching a community service order and his dishonesty during the interview process.

“You and the truth are not always the best of friends," he scolded.