Drug grower who had Taser stun gun at home walks free  

A STUN gun was found in a drug dealer's Derby home after officers found a cannabis-growing operation.

The weapon, discovered in the kitchen, could not fire an electric charge - probably because of faulty wiring, Derby Crown Court heard yesterday.Judge Michael Elsom ordered the destruction of the weapon as he imposed a two-year supervision order on Kirk Booth-Isherwood, 40, of St Anne's Court, West End, Derby.

Ian Way, prosecuting, told the court that Booth-Isherwood was in a car stopped by police at 7pm on January 4. Officers found over £1,000 inside the silver Ford Focus.

They went to his home and found a "fairly elaborate cannabis growing system".

Some plants were in a tent with a heating, irrigation and ventilation system.

Ten small plants were in a "nursery" in a wardrobe. The total haul of drugs could have been sold for about £1,400 on the streets. Electricity was being taken from a neighbour's home by passing a wire through a hole in a wall.

Mr Way said: "In the kitchen, they found a black Taser, a battery-operated stun gun.

"It powered up and could certainly be turned on but it was incapable of discharging a shock. The officer thought it possibly had a wiring fault."

Booth-Isherwood told police that he had found the stun gun outside, added Mr Way.

He admitted having a prohibited weapon and possession of cannabis with intent to supply. He was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work and go on a six-month course to curb his drug problem.

The judge told him: "Unhappily, growing cannabis whether for personal consumption or otherwise is a growth industry, if you will forgive the appalling pun.

"If you demonstrate an inability to obey the terms of the order, a judge will be entitled to say the offences have become so serious that a sentence of custody is required.

"If you break the terms of this order, or by committing other offences, you know precisely what awaits you."

Justin Ablott, in mitigation, handed in references from a church member and from previous employers of Booth-Isherwood. He said the defendant feared losing his accommodation if jailed.

Booth-Isherwood had several previous convictions, including possession of drugs in 2000. At that time, he was given a conditional discharge.

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk 27/09/2013