Father and son team sentenced for cannabis cultivation

Steven Miller cultivated cannabis with his son Tyler

A Maidstone man and his son, who grew large amounts of cannabis in their home for more than a year, have been sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court.

Steven Leonard Miller, 51, unemployed from Brewer Street, has been jailed for three years and 10 months.

His son, Tyler James Miller, 23, a civil engineer from the same address, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years.

He will also have to complete 150 hours' unpaid work and is on a curfew, monitored by a tag, from 8pm to 5am.

The pair pleaded guilty to cannabis cultivation, possession with intent to supply cannabis and abstraction of electricity worth £744. Steven Miller also pleaded guilty to possessing a taser weapon.

Detective Constable Amy Ezzi said: "It has been proven that father and son grew cannabis from at least the beginning of January 2013 until they were caught in April 2014.

"Steven Miller admitted growing cannabis to help relieve the chronic pain he suffers daily, and also later admitted supplying cannabis to friends of his who also had pain conditions.

"Steven Miller then expanded his cannabis cultivation enterprise to commercial scale at the home address, converting the basement and a bedroom for the purpose. He used his son Tyler to assist him with tending to the plants.

"The sentences handed to Steven and Tyler Miller reflects the seriousness of this offence. Cannabis is illegal no matter the reasons for consuming it, and the cultivation and supply of cannabis will not be tolerated.

"Furthermore a total of £1,650 cash was seized from their home address under the Proceeds of Crime Act, and confiscation proceedings are on-going.

"I would urge anyone who suspects that they know of a location where cannabis is being cultivated to call Kent Police on the non-emergency number 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

The court heard that police officers searched Steven Miller's three-storey Maidstone home on April 17, after a tip off, where they found a large quantity of cannabis.

A tent was found in the basement containing young cannabis plants, and a bedroom on the third floor had three tents which had fully grown cannabis plants inside. The drugs crop was supported by a significant hydroponics set up that included air conditioning and lighting.

The men were subsequently arrested and charged on July 9.

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/father_and_son_team_sentenced_for_cannabis_cultivation_1_3770780 15/09/2014