A POWYS man began quoting from the bible and claiming he was guilty of no crime – despite the fact he admitted to being in possession of cannabis.

Leigh Michael Hitchcox told Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 11, that he had smoked the Class B drug previously to deal with chronic pain in his back caused by nerve damage, but that he had immediately stopped using the drug following his arrest last year.

Hitchcox, 53, told magistrates “drugs disgust me” but admitted he was guilty of the offence, even though he did not believe he was guilty of a crime, as he claims that cannabis is not a drug.

He admitted a charge of possessing 3.9 grams of cannabis in Llandrindod on March 22 last year.

Prosecutor Scott McCrimmon said police executed a search warrant at Hitchcox’s home address on Ithon Road, Llandrindod.

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“The defendant was in bed,” said Mr McCrimmon. “A search was conducted, cannabis was located, it had a street value of £30. He made admissions in terms of being in possession of cannabis.”

He said Hitchcox had one previous conviction on his record, which was a conviction for drug driving from October 2021, for which he was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Speaking in his own defence, Hitchcox, who was using a walking stick, said: “Since the last incident I immediately stopped using cannabis for medicinal use.

“I have nerve pain in my back and cannabis was the only thing that used to allow me to move freely.

“I have been suffering since because there’s nothing else that relieves the pain.”

Of the drugs possession, Hitchcox added: “I told them (the police) straight away there were drugs in the house.

“I don’t see cannabis as a drug. Drugs disgust me. I’m guilty of the facts of the case but I don’t believe I’m guilty of a crime.”

Hitchcox then began quoting from the book of Genesis in the bible about God creating the heavens and the earth. He then told magistrates he cannot work because of his condition and that he receives employment and support allowance.

Magistrates fined him £80 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £34 surcharge. They also ordered the drugs to be destroyed.