It has been called the most expensive joint in the history of Scottish justice.

A criminal prosecution over a single cannabis cigarette has cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds after rumbling on for nearly three years.

It began in October 2005 when Andrew Latto was caught with a small amount of the Class C drug with a street value of just £4 while visiting a friend at Perth Prison.

Despite being on the way out of the jail after visiting time finished, Latto admitted he had arrived intending to pass on the drug.

Yesterday, after 17 days in court, the case finally reached a conclusion when he was placed on probation for 12 months.

He was caught by prison staff and arrested in October 2005. The case first called at Perth Sheriff Court in January 2006 and was continued without plea. It called again in February 2006 when Latto's solicitor sent a letter pleading not guilty, so trial and intermediate diet dates were set by the court clerk.

In April 2006 Latto, from Methil in Fife, admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply in the prison.

Since then the case has been called at the court and continued on a further 13 occasions, until Latto was finally sentenced yesterday.

On several occasions the case has been delayed while background reports were gathered. Some of the delays were caused by administrative errors.

At one point Latto refused to go to court because, according to his solicitor Kelly Howe, he had developed agoraphobia and was too scared to venture out.

The delays frustrated the sheriff, who threatened to issue a warrant for Latto's arrest if he did not show.

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