A 45-year-old man who cultivated eight cannabis plants at his home had his three-year jail term reduced to just one after an Appeals Court found that the case had taken almost 10 years to be heard and this must be taken into consideration.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima said the Court of Magistrates should have ignored the statement, as it was released to the police when Louis Lia, of Cospicua, was not allowed to speak to his lawyer.

The court heard that cannabis the plants had a diameter of between 30 and 40 centimetres each.

The total amount of cannabis, when excluding the roots and stalks, weighed 28.63 grams, enough to produce almost 150 joints.

Drug Squad police raided Mr Lia’s residence in June 2007 and discovered the plants in his backyard.

Since the residence is close to a football club, he was also given an aggravating charge of drug trafficking within 100 metres from a place frequented by minors.

Madam Justice Grima reduced the jail term to one year from three years.

The accused was represented by Jason Azzopardi and Kris Busietta.