Dopey restaurant owner jailed for dealing drugs from his kitchens

A RESTAURANT owner has been jailed after he turned to growing cannabis in his bistros to pay off his debts.

Pouyan Monajemi ran two restaurants - Nibbles Bistro, in Long Eaton, and Casanova, in Arnold.

But when trade dipped and the restaurants were forced to close he began using them for a different purpose.

Police raids uncovered more than £15,000 worth of the class B drug growing in the buildings.

Officers searched the properties last June, discovering plants, cropped stems and dried cannabis.

Plants at the Arnold restaurant were growing behind a false wall.

The find led officers to search Monajemi's home where "dealers' lists" were found as well as bags of cannabis, Nottingham Crown Court heard. Judge Michael Stokes QC, sentenced Monajemi to 20 months in jail.

"There is a particular problem in this city with cannabis grows," said the judge. "Police are discovering one virtually every day."

Monajemi, 47, of Croft Avenue, Hucknall, admitted producing cannabis at the restaurants in Coppice Road, Arnold, and Tamworth Road, Long Eaton, and two charges of possessing the drug.

The court heard that he came under pressure from East European criminals, who had lent or given him money in return for using his premises to grow cannabis.

"I accept you owed substantial sums of money to the bank, who were effectively financing your restaurants," said the judge. "I accept that you then came under financial pressure, which resulted in your involvement with unnamed Eastern Europeans.

"You engaged in allowing your premises to be altered in Arnold, so a substantial grow of cannabis of a commercial nature could be introduced."

James Burke, in mitigation, said: "My client became indebted to people who are involved in criminal enterprise.

"He had two business loans and accounts that were heavily overdrawn."

The unnamed individuals financed Monajemi's businesses.

Mr Burke said his client was "incapable" of identifying them to police, even though they were frequently in his restaurants and had "deposited" £10,000. This, it was claimed, later became a loan.

Monajemi was said to have been pressured to pay it back with interest - totalling £30,000 or £40,000. Mr Burke said Monajemi was "under extreme pressure" and had been physically assaulted.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk 6/5/2013