An Englishman convicted of growing cannabis at his home in West Cork spent a hard week in jail and said he would never grow it again — unless he got a licence to grow hemp from the minister for health.

An Englishman living in West Cork who was convicted last week of growing cannabis handed his sentencing judge yesterday his application to the minister for health for a licence to grow hemp.

A detective was asked in court if he smoked cannabis himself. The question was posed during the drugs charges trial of an Englishman living in West Cork for 35 years.