Cannabis cultivation man remanded in custody
A father-of-four who operated a cannabis cultivation in the loft of his Dundee council house has been remanded in custody.
Officers who raided Derek Adam's home discovered 154 plants with a potential street value of up to £24,640.
Adam, who was previously jailed for a year in 2012 after his Rottweilers attacked a 10-year-old girl, will be sentenced on 30 June.
A court heard cultivation equipment was also discovered at a second house.
Adam, 43, admitted producing cannabis at two addresses in Dundee between 5 May 2013 and 9 August 2014.
Depute fiscal Vicki Bell told Dundee Sheriff Court: "The house was found to contain a vast, established area for cultivating cannabis.
"The cupboard in the front bedroom had been converted to allow access to the loft by ladder.
"During the search of the second house, a large amount of cultivation equipment with a similar set-up in the loft was also found."
'Significant custodial sentence'
Adam's stepson, Jake Thomson, 26, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine between the same dates - an offence detected during the same raid.
The court was told the cocaine found in his room had a street value of between £950 and £1,900.
Ian Houston, defending Adam, said: "He has full custody of the four children from a previous marriage, and he is now re-married.
"He has been discharging his parental duties well."
Sheriff Alastair Brown said: "But he's got a commercial cannabis cultivation in the loft - one which the English guidelines suggest attracts a starting point of four years custody."
Mr Houston replied: "He appreciates he faces custody."
Sheriff Brown deferred sentence for social work background reports and remanded both men in custody.
The sheriff said: "In one case there's a very deliberate cultivation of a substantial amount of cannabis which is difficult not to regard as commercial.
"In the other, there is dealing in a class A drug.
"Both cases are likely to attract a significant custodial sentence."