Family sentenced over cannabis
A FATHER and his two sons from Paddock Wood appeared in court after a cannabis growing operation was rumbled.
A FATHER and his two sons from Paddock Wood appeared in court after a cannabis growing operation was rumbled.
Stephen Bothwell, 34, of Cogate Road, and Mark Bothwell, 31, of Keyworth Close, appeared with their father Martin Bothwell, 59 also of Keyworth Close, at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
They had all pleaded guilty on April 27 to producing a controlled Class B drug.
But the court heard while the brothers were heavy daily users of cannabis, their father had "turned a blind eye" to their production operation at a building he rented at Spring Grove Farm in Redwings Lane, Pembury, for his carpet business.
Police carried out a raid at the building on November 26 last year and found an "elaborate set up" for growing cannabis.
Prosecuting, James Nichols said there were filters, drying equipment, a humidifying unit and a timer and £4,500 worth of drugs, or 893.6 grammes.
Mr Nichols: "The brothers are the ones with the habit, using two or three grammes a day. They were growing it for personal use. Dad said he knew what the drugs were but had done nothing to stop it."
He said Stephen Bothwell had a "relevant conviction" connected to drugs in 2006.
Sacha Alexander, defending, said the brothers had grown it themselves after one had been mugged while in London buying cannabis.
She said cannabis had "taken control of their lives".
She added that the drugs had not been used by the brothers as they were "two days away from being dried" and they had both since quit their habit.
Martin Bothwell was given a 12-month community order, 40 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £50.
Mark Bothwell was given a 180-day prison sentence suspended for one year, a 12-month supervisory order, 200 hours of unpaid work and must pay £50 costs.
Stephen Bothwell was also given a 180-day suspended prison sentence, a nine- month supervisory order, 200 hours unpaid work and must pay £50 costs. The drugs and the equipment will be destroyed.
http://www.thisiskent.co.uk 25/05/2012
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