A DOTING dad who foolishly took out a short-term street loan when struggling financially ended up being forced to grow drugs to pay for his debt.

Frank Shaw, 62, began to rebel against the dire situation he found himself in and started to kill off the cannabis plants. When eventually snared by police, he felt a sense of relief that it was all over.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Shaw pleaded guilty to producing and supplying the Class B drug from an address in David Street between March 1 and May 23, 2017.

Defending, Ian McClelland explained that at the time of the offence the accused was doing everything he could to keep his family together.

As well as caring for his wife, the couple also looked after their eldest daughter's children as she struggled with addiction issues.

Shaw, who would worriedly stay outside his daughter's house until the morning, repeatedly attempted to get her into Glasgow Drug Crisis Centre. Eventually she was admitted, to which the accused was told it was "just in time". However before this, Shaw was "at the end of this tether" as his daughter did not care about "anything except herself and her addiction".

Due to the stress he was under, the accused unwisely accepted the offer of assistance via a short-term loan.

Shaw – who bought and sold cars for extra money – believed he would be able to repay the money quickly as he had four motors ready to shift. Unfortunately that did not happen and he "very, very stupidly" agreed to grow the cannabis.

Realising what he got himself involved in, Shaw began to rebel by killing some of the cannabis plants as he wanted it over with.

Mr McClelland added: "It was a release when the police arrived."

Due to his arrest, his grandchildren were placed into foster care.

Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC told the accused: "Well, you have foolishly got involved in criminal behaviour."

Due to Shaw's family situation, the sheriff was "narrowly, very narrowly" convinced to impose an alternative to custody.

The accused, of Forbes Drive, was sentenced to a Community Payback Order with supervision for two years. He was also handed 250 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months. In addition, he was tagged for six months on a Restriction of Liberty Order – in which he will have to remain at home between the hours of 9pm and 6am.

Sheriff Johnston QC warned the accused to stay out of trouble and comply with her orders.