Judge tells cannabis grower his plants are in a sorry state

A district judge told a drug user that cannabis grew freely in her country and was not illegal. District Judge Joti Bopa-Rai, who is originally from India, made the comment at Gloucester Magistrates' Court.

Inspecting a photograph of cannabis plants grown in a Lydney defendant's back garden, she said: "These plants are in a pretty sorry state – there's not much left of them. Where I come from they (cannabis plants) grow liberally and are not a banned drug."



Peter Bowkett, of Harrison Way, Lydney, admitted producing cannabis and possessing cannabis and heroin. Sharon Green, prosecuting, said: "On June 29, police executed a search warrant at the defendant's home and discovered five three-foot high cannabis plants behind his garden shed.

"The defendant then volunteered to hand over a small quantity of cannabis and 2.1 grammes of heroin, with a street value of £210." District Judge Bopa-Rai ruled out custody, largely due to the condition of the cannabis plants, and ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared. Bowkett, 38, will be sentenced at a later date.