POLICE found cannabis plants worth £3,750 in the home of a Dunfermline man suffering from cancer.

James Kessler explained that he was growing the drug for his own medicinal use.

Depute fiscal Jamie Hilland told Dunfermline Sheriff Court that police went to the property for an unrelated matter and they were invited in.

"Officers noticed a smell of cannabis and found plants in the third room of the locus," Mr Hilland said.

"The accused was taken to a police station and a search was later carried out.

"Fifteen cannabis plants were found with a value of around £3,750.

"He told officers he had been growing cannabis for his own use for medicinal purposes."

Kessler, 67, of Alexandra Street, previously admitted that on December 14, 2017, at his address, he produced a controlled drug, namely cannabis, a Class B drug.

Defence solicitor Roshni Joshi said her client appeared as a first-time offender.

"He is allowed to have his views but he does accept that it is illegal, although he believes that it should be legalised and be used for medicine," Ms Joshi said.

"He accepts it is a crime.

"There are a number of health factors and he is presently going through treatment for bladder cancer.

"He simply believes that cannabis alleviates the pain.

"He has no experience of the judicial system and is an educated man with an impressive record of employment and travel."

Sheriff James MacDonald said: "To avoid any doubt, misuse of drugs is a serious matter, especially when I am told the value runs to four figures."

The sheriff deferred sentence until February 27 and called for a restriction of liberty order assessment.