The crusade to get sentence reduced.

A Briton jailed for more than 10 years for growing cannabis plants yesterday insisted it was far too long a term given all the mitigating factors.

Daniel Holmes should only have been imprisoned for four years, his lawyer argued in a passionate plea, pointing out that in Britain a similar crime would have earned a slap on the wrist.

Kenneth Grima made his submissions to back up a lengthy written appeal document presented to Mr Justice David Scicluna, Mr Justice Joseph Zammit Mckeon and Madam Justice Abigail Lofaro in the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Mr Holmes had admitted to the cultivation of the plants and four other of drug-related charges, including trafficking.

Since sentencing, more than 3,500 people have signed an online petition calling for a reduction in Mr Holmes’ jail term – a point raised by Dr Grima, who was immediately told by the judges that this was irrelevant and that he should stick to the facts.

He admitted the crime and knew exactly what he was doing

Dr Grima pointed out that the prosecution had painted a picture of a drug pusher living in a luxurious flat when this was not the case.

Mr Holmes had been paying €350 a month in rent and the type of apartment and its contents were definitely not luxurious in any way, the lawyer said.

Furthermore, the drug found in the apartment did not belong solely to him but also to his friend, Barry Lee, who had since committed suicide while in prison facing the same charges.

He said his client was also jailed on the incorrect assumption that the weight of the plants amounted to more than a kilogram when this included the stem and roots, which if excluded would substantially reduce the amount.

In response, lawyer Maxilene Bonnett from the Attorney General’s Office said Mr Holmes had admitted to the crime and knew exactly what he was doing. He was also given the right to withdraw that plea, according to procedure, and yet he carried on.

Many plants were found and not just a few as the defence was implying, she said.

When it came to punishment, four of the charges carried a maximum of life imprisonment, the lawyer said.

It was Mr Holmes who had received the better deal as a week before he was sentenced, another man received the same prison term for possession of far less cannabis.

An appeal decision is expected in October.