Jail for German who grew cannabis in Rogart
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A German man who was involved with the production of cannabis in a remote Sutherland cottage, has been jailed for two years.
Dominik Osterspey (39), whose address was given as the Old Golspie Inn, appeared from custody for sentencing at Inverness Sheriff Court today.
He had earlier admitted illegally producing the drug between January and March last year at Torbuie, Balclaggan.
The offence came to light after police visited the property on a routine enquiry and got a strong smell of cannabis when Osterspey opened the door.
Officers returned with a search warrant and found 272 plants at varying stages of maturity. It was estimated the plants were capable of yielding around £70,000 worth of the drug.
Defence agent Aileen Foggo said the operation was not set up by Osterspey. He had been neither the “brains of the enterprise or a beneficiary but the smallest grain in the pile”.
A college friend encouraged him to travel to Rogart after hearing that Osterspey was dealing with mental health issues and family difficulties. It was this friend who had rented the cottage.
The lawyer said: “He was more or less dumped in a remote location in Rogart. The operation was well under way and he was expected to feed and water the plants in return for a roof over his head, his keep and access to cannabis.”
She described Osterspey as “very vulnerable and naive” and said he had stopped using the drug which had made his psychosis worse. He had accommodation and a job to return to in Germany.
Ms Macinnes asked that Osterspey, who has been remanded in custody since February 15 and had previously been refused bail, be given a non custodial sentence.
But Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood said that while he accepted the accused was not the main actor in the operation, he had still chosen to become involved for a lengthy period.”
The sheriff backdated the jail sentence to February 15.
