Scotland - A TAXWOMAN caught growing a cannabis factory yesterday told how she learned how on YouTube.
Collette Beard was growing 20 dope plants in one of five former council houses she had bought when police raided her.
She now faces losing her job with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and has been sentenced to 225 hours' community service.
Her factory in Camelon, near Falkirk, was raided by police who found 20 cannabis plants, ranging in size from three to six feet.
Yesterday, Beard, 36, told the Sunday Mail she found instructions on how to build a factory on YouTube.
Beard said: "At the height of the property boom, I'd bought five fomer council houses and was letting them out to try and make a better life for myself and my family.
"But when mortgage rates started spiralling out of control, I got caught in the boom-andbust trap, then a set of tenants trashed a house leaving me facing complete financial ruin.
"I was so desperate to save everything I'd worked so hard for, when someone suggested I try growing cannabis plants, I stupidly thought it might be a way out.
"I'd no idea what I was doing and logged on to YouTube to see how it was done.
"It looked really easy and everything I needed to grow the plants, I could get perfectly legally. I got the seeds from a specialist shop and the equipment from a garden centre. I needed around £5000 to repair the damage to the trashed flat and naively thought I could sell the plants to raise the money.
"Now, I face losing my job, I've been on tranquilisers and I was convinced I was going to be sent to jail."
Beard's property portfolio was worth around £400,000, including her own £80,000 house in Blackridge and five former council flats in Livingston, Denny and Camelon bought for around £60,000 each.
She also lost more than £10,000 in a propery deal in Bulgaria. Collette said: "I've been very stupid and risked my freedom.
"The only good thing that's happened is my baby boy Gabriel, who was born seven months ago.
"I'm very lucky to be still here looking after him."
Beard said that her partner David Craig, 27, who also works for the Benefits Office, was standing by her.
Sheriff William Gallacher warned her she had behaved in a "disgraceful manner". He said: "This isn't an innocent girl who got into something by mistake. This is a woman who decided things aren't going that great, so I'll get into the drugs game.
"It is an outrageous crime. You have behaved in a disgraceful manner. You were prepared to commit a crime, which often people are sent to jail for.
"We see in this court every day how much damage drugs do. Taking into account that you have no previous convictions, you will avoid a custodial sentence and should instead give something back to the community, for all the damage you have caused."
Depute Fiscal Andrea Burns said: "In December 2008, Central Scotland Police received information that she was cultivating cannabis in one of her flats.
"The police forced entry and there was nobody there.
"The front bedroom had been tied shut with nylon rope. They went in and found 20 plants ranging from three foot in size to six foot in size.
"The police discovered all of the usual items required for the cultivation of cannabis, such as fluorescent lighting and water containers."
HOT HOUSES
The value of drugs home grown in domestic cannabis farms has become a £100million-a-year business, police say.
Most of the gangs caught have been Vietnamese or Chinese with links to triads.
In some instances, houses containing thousands of plants have been discovered by neighbours alerted by the smell.
Others have been busted by high electric bills for the lighting and systems needed to plants alive.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: The Daily Record
Author: Marion Scott
Contact: The Daily Record - Scotland's newspaper
Copyright: 2010 Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd
Website:Exclusive: Taxwoman behind cannabis drug factory found out how on the internet
Collette Beard was growing 20 dope plants in one of five former council houses she had bought when police raided her.
She now faces losing her job with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and has been sentenced to 225 hours' community service.
Her factory in Camelon, near Falkirk, was raided by police who found 20 cannabis plants, ranging in size from three to six feet.
Yesterday, Beard, 36, told the Sunday Mail she found instructions on how to build a factory on YouTube.
Beard said: "At the height of the property boom, I'd bought five fomer council houses and was letting them out to try and make a better life for myself and my family.
"But when mortgage rates started spiralling out of control, I got caught in the boom-andbust trap, then a set of tenants trashed a house leaving me facing complete financial ruin.
"I was so desperate to save everything I'd worked so hard for, when someone suggested I try growing cannabis plants, I stupidly thought it might be a way out.
"I'd no idea what I was doing and logged on to YouTube to see how it was done.
"It looked really easy and everything I needed to grow the plants, I could get perfectly legally. I got the seeds from a specialist shop and the equipment from a garden centre. I needed around £5000 to repair the damage to the trashed flat and naively thought I could sell the plants to raise the money.
"Now, I face losing my job, I've been on tranquilisers and I was convinced I was going to be sent to jail."
Beard's property portfolio was worth around £400,000, including her own £80,000 house in Blackridge and five former council flats in Livingston, Denny and Camelon bought for around £60,000 each.
She also lost more than £10,000 in a propery deal in Bulgaria. Collette said: "I've been very stupid and risked my freedom.
"The only good thing that's happened is my baby boy Gabriel, who was born seven months ago.
"I'm very lucky to be still here looking after him."
Beard said that her partner David Craig, 27, who also works for the Benefits Office, was standing by her.
Sheriff William Gallacher warned her she had behaved in a "disgraceful manner". He said: "This isn't an innocent girl who got into something by mistake. This is a woman who decided things aren't going that great, so I'll get into the drugs game.
"It is an outrageous crime. You have behaved in a disgraceful manner. You were prepared to commit a crime, which often people are sent to jail for.
"We see in this court every day how much damage drugs do. Taking into account that you have no previous convictions, you will avoid a custodial sentence and should instead give something back to the community, for all the damage you have caused."
Depute Fiscal Andrea Burns said: "In December 2008, Central Scotland Police received information that she was cultivating cannabis in one of her flats.
"The police forced entry and there was nobody there.
"The front bedroom had been tied shut with nylon rope. They went in and found 20 plants ranging from three foot in size to six foot in size.
"The police discovered all of the usual items required for the cultivation of cannabis, such as fluorescent lighting and water containers."
HOT HOUSES
The value of drugs home grown in domestic cannabis farms has become a £100million-a-year business, police say.
Most of the gangs caught have been Vietnamese or Chinese with links to triads.
In some instances, houses containing thousands of plants have been discovered by neighbours alerted by the smell.
Others have been busted by high electric bills for the lighting and systems needed to plants alive.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: The Daily Record
Author: Marion Scott
Contact: The Daily Record - Scotland's newspaper
Copyright: 2010 Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd
Website:Exclusive: Taxwoman behind cannabis drug factory found out how on the internet
