A FATHER-of-three who had a small stash of cannabis at his Wigton home used it for pain relief following a foot injury, a court heard.

Karl George Wilson, 47, was caught on March 18 after police found him associating with another man in the town who was heavily under the influence and carrying what magistrates heard were “illicit” substances.

Wilson had not cannabis on him, but when Police searched his home at Kirkland Fold, Wigton, they found just over 91g of cannabis. At Carlisle's Rickergate court, Wilson admitted possessing the class B drug.

In court, Steven Marsh, for the defendant, said he had suffered problems with his heel ever since an accident had left him with a fracture in 2006, though he had been able to carry on working for a number of years.

He had undergone an operation during that last year and now suffered mobility problems that meant he was unable to work, said the lawyer.

“He suffers substantial ongoing pain from this condition,” said Mr Marsh.

“That is relevant in that in this case because Mr Wilson has cannabis at his home because he finds it relieves the long-standing pain that he has in his heel. He says it's more effective than pain killers.”

Mr Marsh said the other man who was with Wilson had taken some substance but Wilson never used cannabis anywhere but at home.

“He's not interfering with anyone else at all,” said the lawyer.

“He takes the drug to relieve the substantial pain in a controlled environment, at home, to avoid repercussions on him or anyone else.”

The lawyer gave the court a doctor's letter confirming the medical condition suffered by the defendant, who appeared in court using crutches.

Magistrates imposed an £80 fine, with £85 costs, and a £30 victim surcharge. The cannabis seized will be destroyed.