Man jailed over Caithness cannabis factory in ruined mansion plans to appeal

One of two men jailed for operating a cannabis factory at a ruined Caithness mansion is to appeal against the conviction and the sentence.

That emerged at Wick Sheriff Court this week when it was also revealed that the Crown is taking steps to recover any financial gain Phillip Nicholson might have derived from the illegal cannabis cultivation.

Nicholson (32) appeared via a video link from Perth Prison where he is serving a two-year term.

His co-accused Damon Mackay (35) was also jailed for the same period.

Both pleaded not guilty on indictment to growing cannabis and having been involved in its supply but were found guilty in April after trial before a jury.

The court heard during the three-day trial that the cannabis enterprise at Sackville House, at Hastigrow, Bower in May 2021, was a “well planned, large-scale operation” involving a crop of 92 cannabis plants with a street value potential of up to £83,000.

The crop was only half-matured when it was seized by police along with all the equipment required for such cultivation, including lamps, water and fertiliser.

Key to the conviction of Nicholson, previously living in the Gairloch area, and Mackay, of Huddart Street, Wick, was forensic evidence of their DNA found on food and drink items inside the historic house. Their defence alleged that the items had been ‘planted’ in the property by Peter Campbell, who had access to the building.

He gave evidence for the prosecution and denied having been involved in the operation. He also rejected a suggestion that he had named both accused in order to get himself out of trouble.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Neil Wilson described the cannabis factory as “a planned, large-scale operation” aimed at “a considerable financial benefit” and one which would have been of potential harm to the community.

When the case was called on Wednesday, fiscal depute Grant Maclennan indicated that the Proceeds of Crime Unit was seeking to recover any financial benefit Nicholson might have gained from the cannabis operation but had yet to complete their submission. The case was continued to July 8.

Sheriff Wilson commented that notice had also been given by Nicholson’s solicitor that he intended to appeal against his conviction and two-year sentence.