DRUG LAWS ARE POTTY,I'm not going to defy the law.. but it's a bad law

Man, 3, caught growing cannabis Says it’s high time to legalise drug

- MICHAEL O'TOOLE

A PENSIONER who avoided jail after he was caught in possession of cannabis plants for the second time in 10 years yesterday called for a change in the law.

Speaking exclusively to the Irish Mirror, Richard Goldfrapp, 73, insisted: "I am not a criminal.

He spoke to us days after he walked free from a court in Co Cork despite admitting possession of 40 cannabis plants.

He was given a suspended three year sentence by Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday but she did warn him he was running out of chances.

He was also given a similar penalty in 2012 for the same offence and Judge Boyle told him he was facing jail if he ever re-offends.

However, speaking to the Irish Mirror at his new home in Skibbereen, retired gardener Mr Goldfrapp said his days of cultivating cannabis were over.

He added: "I am not going to defy the law. I think it should be legalised.

"It is not right to criminalise young people. Young people are adventurous at that age, they will try any kind of buzz or high.

"It drives them into the hands of dealers who are unscrupulous as they will offer something else besides.

"I don't have any animosity towards the gardai or the judiciary, I just think it's a bad law."

WARRANT

Gardai called to his former home in Kilcoe 15km outside Skibbereen last June with a search warrant but he pointed out the cannabis plants to the officers.

Mr Goldfrapp said: "They were very easy going and I was very easy going with them.