A MUSSELBURGH man who was forced to grow cannabis plants by a gang has been placed on supervision.

Ross Axon was ordered to carry out the drug operation at his home after a group of unknown men turned up at his flat.

He was told he had to maintain the 54 plants or his family would be hurt by the gang members.

But the illegal crop was discovered after 29-year-old Axon received information from East Lothian Council informing him of an upcoming “routine council visit”.

He replied to council official Chris McLeod by email claiming that “he was being made to do something” against his will, and Mr McLeod attended the property that evening accompanied by the police.

The cultivation was discovered and Axon was arrested and subsequently charged.

Axon had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing and producing cannabis at his former home at MacBeth Moir Road and he returned to court last Thursday for sentencing.

Sheriff Thomas Welsh sentenced Axon, who has since moved out of Musselburgh, to be placed under supervision for 18 months during last Thursday’s court hearing.

Previously, the court was told that council official Mr McLeod received an email from Axon on March 21 last year where he claimed he was “an easy target” for the gangsters.

Fiscal depute Anthony Steele said: “The witness McLeod raised concerns with the police and attended the locus at 6pm on March 21.

“The accused permitted entry to police and they immediately detected a strong smell of cannabis. They also noted the accused was extremely nervous and stated: ‘They made me do it, what could I do about it?’”

Officers then discovered the “fully operational cannabis cultivation” in a bedroom and Axon was detained and taken to Dalkeith Police Station.

A small amount of cannabis was also found in the living room of the property.

Defence agent Matthew Nicholson previously told the court that his client was “being forced to do something he didn’t want to do” and claimed that the gang had told him they would “hurt my mum” if he did not comply.

Mr Nicholson added: “This came to light after the accused emailed the council saying he was being forced to do something he didn’t want to do and wanted help.

“When the police attended he was in a very distressed state, claiming he was sorry and they were going to hurt his mum.

“An individual who is known to the police befriended him and gained his trust. He asked if he would look after two cannabis plants.

“Then a number of individuals from England attended his address with a large number of cannabis plants and threatened the accused and his family.

“He has been used, reported himself to the police and has co-operated fully with police.”