Cannabis grower gets telling-off in court after wearing T-shirt with naked woman on

Leigh Brookes from Amington will appear at Burton Magistrates' Court again for sentencing on August 28.

A TAMWORTH man who appeared in court on drugs charges was given a stern warning by magistrates after wearing a T-shirt with a semi-naked woman emblazoned on the front.

Leigh Brookes was told: "You should be appropriately dressed when you stand in front of a court - your T-shirt is not appropriate.

"Next time you come here if you are not appropriately dressed you could be found in contempt."

Brought before magistrates on Thursday, August 7, Brookes faced charges of possessing the Class B drug cannabis and cannabis production - to which he pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting Sam Frazer explained how the 32-year-old was stopped by police in Victoria Road, Sutton Coldfield, in April last year.

"Officers smelled cannabis coming from the vehicle," she said. "They asked if he had any cannabis on his person. The defendant reached into the vehicle and produce a green bag with two buds of cannabis."

The centre console contained "two large fists of cannabis" which Miss Frazer said was a "sizeable amount".

Brookes said he had brought the drugs from a man in Erdington for £120.

Officers then carried a Section 18 search on his home and found 12 plants in a empty bedroom.

The area had been split into two sections; with the smaller of the two containing four plants and the larger, eight. Both had heat lamps and a water system was in place.

In interview Brookes, of Sorbus, Amington, admitting smoking two ‘spliffs' from the amount bought before being arrested.

He had been growing the drug at home for his own personal use, explained that the plants would be ready to some in two weeks' time, having been cultivating the plants for the last six months. He said it was the second crop he had grown; the first last two months.

Brookes told officers he had researched how to grow the drug on the internet and had spent £200 on equipment.

Defending Serena Joshi said the self-employed builder had grown the drug for his own personal use and that he "did not intend to sell it on to anyone else".

She added that since his arrest Brookes had "dropped his use of the drug dramatically".

The Amington resident - who has a seven-month-old child - had no previous convictions involving drugs and was commended by police for his "full and frank admission".

Magistrates adjourned the case for three weeks for a pre-sentence report. Brookes was granted unconditional bail.

He will appear at Burton Magistrates' Court again for sentencing on August 28.

http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/Drug-dealer-gets-telling-court-wearing-T-shirt/story-22596235-detail/story.html 12/08/2014