'Foolish' Cleethorpes dad grew almost £6k worth of cannabis to pay for IVF treatment so he could have child with partner  

A FATHER has escaped jail after he grew almost £6,000 worth of cannabis to fund IVF treatment so he could have a child with his partner, a court heard.

Police stumbled upon 20 plants of up to 2ft in height at the home of Brett Winterton, 37, in Park Street, Cleethorpes, after going to the house to arrest another man.

Winterton pleaded guilty to being concerned in the cultivation of cannabis at Grimsby Magistrates' Court in June.

Grimsby Crown Court heard Winterton wanted to raise the cash to pay for IVF treatment with his partner, after the couple were told they were not eligible for NHS funding as he already has an 18-year-old daughter.

Police arrested Winterton after making the discovery of the plants and cultivating equipment in an upstairs bedroom at the property in February.

Prosecuting, Gordon Stables said police were satisfied Winterton had the knowledge to cultivate and engineer the cannabis.

"This defendant disclosed (to police) that the plants were his and that he was raising cash for IVF treatment for his partner," he said.

There was an estimated yield of 45g of cannabis per plant, and a total of 900g.

The small factory would yield three crops a year, the court heard.

Winterton was hoping to make between £4,000 and £6,000 from it, Mr Stables said.

"He said he had spent £250 on equipment but would not say where he got it from," Mr Stables added.

"He said nobody else was involved in it."

Defending, Richard Butters said the case was not one of "greed", and would not have funded luxury items.

"It was an act of desperation," he said.

"The couple had been trying for a child for a long time.

"They went to the hospital and have now been told on three occasions that they are not eligible for funding.

"He made completely the wrong decision.

"He never did in fact get to sell the cannabis - although he would have done.

"He is of no risk to anybody. It was a one-off. He is of previous good character.

"He is extremely hard-working and he is genuinely remorseful.

"He is not a greedy man. He was doing it for the right reasons but made the wrong decision."

Recorder David Bradshaw said of Winterton: "You found yourself in a position where the state could not or would not assist you and you thought up this scheme to try to alleviate the matter.

"You, I suspect, know better than anybody what a foolish decision that was."

Recorder Bradshaw said he had "no doubt" that the case crossed the custody threshold but resisted handing down an immediate custodial term - instead handing Winterton an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for a year.

He must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work as part of a one-year supervision order.

http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Foolish-Cleethorpes-dad-grew-6k-worth-cannabis/story-22852390-detail/story.html 30/08/2014