Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
A MAN grew drugs to supply to his friends in a so-called "cannabis club" and to feed his own habit after falling into financial hardship, a court heard.
Mark Wilson, 37, of Corporation Road, Scunthorpe, had 16 plants with the potential to yield cannabis worth more than £12,000 after buying a "job lot" of seeds and obtaining instructions on how to cultivate the drug.
He admitted production of cannabis and abstraction of electricity and was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court.
Prosecuting, Jeremy Evans said Wilson's illegal activity came to light when plain clothes police officers attended a property on Skippingdale Road in Scunthorpe on January 14 on suspicion cannabis was being cultivated there.
On searching the property, they found a "small set-up consistent with the production and cultivation of cannabis", Mr Evans said.
Police analysis revealed the 16 plants, found in a front bedroom, could be capable of producing 720g of skunk cannabis, with a street value of £12,150.
A further five plants were found in a rear bedroom and both rooms had additional equipment such as lamps, fans and filters which were associated with the cultivation of the plants.
The property's pre-payment electricity meter had been bypassed by adding extra wires, which Mr Evans said had led to £1,417-worth of electricity not being paid for.
Cash worth £850 was also found in a wall cupboard in the property and seized by police.
Mr Evans said Wilson told police he was growing the drug and selling it to "three lads".
But Graham Pressler, mitigating said it was only being sold to two others.
He said: "He was in a situation where he and two friends exchange cannabis.
"It was like a cannabis club and whoever had a bit would sell it to their friends."
Mr Pressler said Wilson and his partner "had their backs against the wall with their financial situation", had not paid their mortgage for 18 months and had taken out a payday loan.
He said: "Wilson's motivation was purely financial and to satisfy his habit.
"This episode has completely shaken him to the roots with regards to transgressing the law."
Mr Pressler said Wilson had used cannabis for "a number of years", but was now "entirely drug free".
Sentencing, Judge David Tremberg told Wilson: "I am told what lay behind this offending, at least in part, was straightened financial circumstances.
"I am afraid this country has been going through a recession for several years and there are a lot of people in this country who are struggling from a financial point of view.
"That is no excuse for them and it is certainly no excuse for you to turn to a deliberate breach of the law such as this."
Judge Tremberg said he took into account the admissions Wilson made to police, his lack of previous convictions and the points put forward in mitigation and agreed to give Wilson his "first and last chance" to avoid immediate custody.
He was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, as well as paying compensation of £500 to his electricity company and £350 costs.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Scunthorpe man avoids jail for running 'cannabis club' | Scunthorpe Telegraph
Author: Scunthorpe Telegraph
Contact: Scunthorpe Telegraph | Contact us
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Latest Scunthorpe Home news | Scunthorpe Telegraph
Mark Wilson, 37, of Corporation Road, Scunthorpe, had 16 plants with the potential to yield cannabis worth more than £12,000 after buying a "job lot" of seeds and obtaining instructions on how to cultivate the drug.
He admitted production of cannabis and abstraction of electricity and was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court.
Prosecuting, Jeremy Evans said Wilson's illegal activity came to light when plain clothes police officers attended a property on Skippingdale Road in Scunthorpe on January 14 on suspicion cannabis was being cultivated there.
On searching the property, they found a "small set-up consistent with the production and cultivation of cannabis", Mr Evans said.
Police analysis revealed the 16 plants, found in a front bedroom, could be capable of producing 720g of skunk cannabis, with a street value of £12,150.
A further five plants were found in a rear bedroom and both rooms had additional equipment such as lamps, fans and filters which were associated with the cultivation of the plants.
The property's pre-payment electricity meter had been bypassed by adding extra wires, which Mr Evans said had led to £1,417-worth of electricity not being paid for.
Cash worth £850 was also found in a wall cupboard in the property and seized by police.
Mr Evans said Wilson told police he was growing the drug and selling it to "three lads".
But Graham Pressler, mitigating said it was only being sold to two others.
He said: "He was in a situation where he and two friends exchange cannabis.
"It was like a cannabis club and whoever had a bit would sell it to their friends."
Mr Pressler said Wilson and his partner "had their backs against the wall with their financial situation", had not paid their mortgage for 18 months and had taken out a payday loan.
He said: "Wilson's motivation was purely financial and to satisfy his habit.
"This episode has completely shaken him to the roots with regards to transgressing the law."
Mr Pressler said Wilson had used cannabis for "a number of years", but was now "entirely drug free".
Sentencing, Judge David Tremberg told Wilson: "I am told what lay behind this offending, at least in part, was straightened financial circumstances.
"I am afraid this country has been going through a recession for several years and there are a lot of people in this country who are struggling from a financial point of view.
"That is no excuse for them and it is certainly no excuse for you to turn to a deliberate breach of the law such as this."
Judge Tremberg said he took into account the admissions Wilson made to police, his lack of previous convictions and the points put forward in mitigation and agreed to give Wilson his "first and last chance" to avoid immediate custody.
He was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, as well as paying compensation of £500 to his electricity company and £350 costs.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Scunthorpe man avoids jail for running 'cannabis club' | Scunthorpe Telegraph
Author: Scunthorpe Telegraph
Contact: Scunthorpe Telegraph | Contact us
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Latest Scunthorpe Home news | Scunthorpe Telegraph
