A HEAD chef at a Michellin-starred restaurant grew cannabis alongside his fruit and vegetables.
Richard Leonard, 43, grew the plant in a greenhouse alongside his tomatoes at his home in West Hoathly, near Cuckfield.
Mr Leonard, who worked at the lauded Catt Inn in West Hoathly, said he worked up to 70 hours a week and used the cannabis to unwind.
He said everything he did was “organic and self-sufficient, including the home-grown cannabis” and he wanted to stand up and represent the “tens of thousands” of cannabis users.
He added: “I can’t see that I’m causing any harm to anyone else buying it.”
Police raided his home on October 2 and discovered seven plants inside a rear-garden plastic greenhouse. Mr Leonard was arrested at a nearby pub and provided police with a front door key to the home, where a further 13 plants, heat lamps and blackout blinds were found.
He handed in his notice at the Catt Inn before being arrested.
Christos Christou, defending, said: “The defendant is a chef, but is due to commence employment at a charity establishment to work with children with learning difficulties.
“In his 30s he was drinking heavily every night – often consuming half a bottle of gin but he has since turned to cannabis to deal with stress and anxiety.
“The reason he grew cannabis at home is because he didn’t want to involve himself in the criminal activity of going out on to the streets to buy it.
“The plants were grown in his home and in the soil in the garden alongside tomatoes and other vegetables.
“He is now due to go to his doctor to seek alternative medication.
“His career up to now has been very good – this was simply a minor blip.”
Mr Leonard admitted a charge of producing the class B drug at Crawley Magistrates’ Court. He was fined £340 and ordered to pay £119 costs.
Chef stands up for cannabis users in court
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