Cannabis found in van leads to £25,000 drugs factory in Grimsby

Stuart Lawson: Jailed for two years and four months by Grimsby Crown Court for drugs offences.

TWO men were "caught red-handed" with stashes of cannabis that were part of a wider drug-dealing enterprise worth nearly £25,000.

A cannabis factory was later found with 48 plants being grown for future dealing, a court heard.

Stuart Lawson, 37, of Macaulay Street, Grimsby, and Gary Lazenby, 28, of Byron Grove, Grimsby, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Lawson also admitted producing 48 cannabis plants and dishonestly using electricity.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that police stopped a van being driven by Lawson, with Lazenby the passenger. There was a strong smell of cannabis in the van and there was green herbal cannabis in a carrier bag.

Lawson's premises in Macaulay Street were searched and a cannabis factory was found. There were 34 seedlings in a tent and 14 plants in the loft.

The electricity meter had been bypassed.

The cannabis found in the van had a street value of £540 and the total value of the entire haul was £24,900.

Lawson's previous convictions included ones for producing 106 cannabis plants with a street value of more than £11,500.

Simon Hirst, mitigating, said that Lawson had come off cannabis since the offences.

He did voluntary work at a judo club, ran fitness training for youngsters, was very hard-working and had a five-year-old child.

Andrew Bailey, representing Lazenby, said his client played a lesser role. He had suffered a significant cannabis problem for some time.

Part of any profit made would have been ploughed back in to buying cannabis for his own use.

Judge David Tremberg told the pair: "You went in to this offending with your eyes wide open and you were aware of the potential consequences to you if you were caught.

"You clearly made a judgement that the possible benefits outweighed the risks. You acted as a team and you were caught red-handed in possession of 96.9g of cannabis for onward distribution. This was substantial production on a significant commercial scale."

Lawson was jailed for two years and four months. Lazenby was locked up for a year.

http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Cannabis-van-leads-25-000-drugs-factory-Grimsby/story-21965791-detail/story.html 29/07/2014