A DISGRACED former deputy town clerk and finance officer for Falmouth Town Council was caught growing 34 cannabis plants at his home.

Simon John Polglase, 54, of Chy An Gwel, Halamanning, Goldsithney, Penzance, was sentenced at Truro Crown Court last week.

He had pleaded guilty to being in possession of 294.09 grams of cannabis and cannabis resin following a police raid on his home in September last year.

He entered his plea when he appeared at Truro Magistrates's Court on May 20 this year.

He also pleaded guilty to producing a quantity of cannabis consisting of 34 plants found in polytunnels at his home in contravention of the misuse of drugs act.

For the production and possession of cannabis he was given a community order for 12 months with ten days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 80 hours unpaid work, to run concurrently.

A forfeiture and destruction order was made for the drugs and paraphernalia. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £95 and prosecution costs of £330.

In a separate hearing at Truro magistrates' Court in March this year, an application from Devon and Cornwall Police to continue to hold onto £20,950 in cash seized under the Proceeds of Crime act was granted for another six months.

Polglase started work at Falmouth Town Council as an administrative officer in 2003 eventually working his way up to deputy town clerk and finance officer.

In 2012 he was convicted of fraud at Truro Crown Court after admitting making fraudulent expenses claims between February 2007 and the same month in 2010 whilst working at the town council.