CANNABIS was smoked in public toilets at a market square thronging with Saturday afternoon shoppers, a court heard yesterday.

Harrogate magistrates were told how worried members of the public in Thirsk alerted police after spotting two males acting suspiciously.

When police went into the toilet, they detected a strong smell of cannabis smoke coming from behind the closed door of one of the cubicles, said Mark Haigh, prosecuting.

One of the occupants was Kevin Hood, a man known to have convictions for drugs offences. The other was a teenager.

Mr Haigh said 28-year-old Hood, of Grange Close, Dishforth, Thirsk, produced a small quantity of cannabis resin and a tin which contained a pipe. He then turned aggressive and had to be handcuffed before being taken to Northallerton police station.

Police raided his home and found an 18in cannabis plant growing in a bedroom.

Hood, who has two previous convictions for growing cannabis, admitted possessing and cultivating the drug.

He was given a six-month community order requiring probation supervision and 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £70 costs. The cannabis and pipe will be destroyed.