Last updated at 13:26, Wednesday, 03 March 2010

A GARDENER caught with cannabis was using it to deal with stress, a court heard.

Kevin Lee Hartley was spotted driving his car in a field by police responding to a call at Barnfield Farm in Bootle.

When police spoke to the 24-year-old, he admitted having cannabis in his pocket.

Miss Lisa O’Loughlin, prosecuting at Furness Magistrates’ Court on Monday, said: “PC Ingram had been asked to attend Barnfield Farm and he saw a car being driven on a field.

“Mr Hartley was driving. A charge of driving with excess alcohol has been discontinued.

“But he was asked if he had any controlled drugs and he said, ‘Yes, a little bit of weed somewhere.’”

Miss O’Loughlin said a small cube of cannabis worth £10 was found in Hartley’s pocket and when he was arrested, he admitted possession of the drug and said it was for personal use.

Hartley, of Chapel Lane, Bootle, pleaded guilty on Monday to possession of a Class B drug on September 20.

Miss O’Loughlin said Hartley had last been in court in June 2006, when he was given a two-year community order for possession of cannabis.

Ms Maureen Fawcett, defending, said Hartley was using the cannabis for stress and added: “He was fully open with the police. It was a £10 cube for personal use.

“He said there had been a family argument and he had taken himself into a field.

“He has used cannabis in the past when he has been stressed.”

Ms Fawcett told the court that Hartley had recently started up his own gardening business, doing work for farmers in the Bootle area.

Hartley was fined £50 and ordered to pay £50 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Magistrates also ordered the destruction of the cannabis.

First published at 13:14, Wednesday, 03 March 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk