Cannabis grower jailed for three years for Gloucester warehouse plot - seven weeks after leaving court 'for a cigarette'
CANNABIS grower Andrew Stevens, who went on the run for seven weeks after popping out of court for a cigarette has been jailed for three years.
CANNABIS grower Andrew Stevens, who went on the run for seven weeks after popping out of court for a cigarette has been jailed for three years.
Stevens, 37, was involved with another man, Michael Medley, in cultivating the drug in rented warehouse units in Bristol Road, Gloucester.
He had been at Gloucester Crown Court on January 8 to enter his guilty plea to the charge but took fright at the thought of going to jail and made off after telling his solicitor he was going for a smoke.
Seven weeks later he handed himself in to police and was then jailed for three weeks for breach of bail.
When he first walked into the dock at that hearing Judge Jamie Tabor QC quipped: "Long cigarette, Mr Stevens!"
On Friday, the prison term that Stevens, of Severn Road, Cheltenham, feared finally arrived when the same judge jailed him for three years.
The court heard that Stevens and Medley grew 180 cannabis plants in the Bristol Road units.
The plants were found growing in five tents when the premises were raided by police on October 24 last year.
Medley was arrested after visiting the premises on December 4.
Police found Stevens' finger and thumbprints on the light bulbs and some DNA on face masks in the premises.
Stevens' solicitor Lloyd Jenkins said: "He foolishly got involved in something which was to make a quick buck."
He submitted Stevens played a lesser and subordinate role in the operation.
Jailing Stevens, Judge Tabor said: "It's rather sad to see you here.
"I think you got mixed up with someone who was very much more criminally experienced than you.
"It is an object lesson to avoid such people."
Stevens replied: "Yes, I know that."
The judge went on: "This was a very substantial cannabis factory indeed.
"The least sentence I can pass on you is three years. Stay away from bad men."
*On February 7, Michael Medley, 49, of Central Road, Gloucester, was jailed for four years after he admitted being concerned in production of cannabis.
http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk 18/03/2014
S
Soft Secrets
