Former Olympic cyclist grew cannabis plants worth £24k
A FORMER British Olympic cyclist has admitted growing cannabis plants worth up to £24,000.
A FORMER British Olympic cyclist has admitted growing cannabis plants worth up to £24,000.
Darryl James Webster, of Dolawel, Pencader, pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates' Court to producing 28 cannabis plants at a house owned by his partner in Drefach Felindre and nine others in a cellar at his home.
Dennis Davies, prosecuting, said police found two cannabis growing rooms in the house in Drefach Felindre during a search following a tip-off.
One contained no cannabis but several pots with only storks remaining - evidence that plants had recently been harvested, he said
The windows of the rooms had been blacked out and the walls were covered with a silver foil.
"It was a sophisticated state of affairs," Mr Davies added.
Officers then went to Webster's home, where initially he refused to let them in.
After he was arrested he showed them to a plastic storage box containing cannabis and then took them to the cellar, where they found a cultivation room.
Webster was taken into custody, where he told police the cannabis was for his own personal use. But Mr Davies said: "There was a professional set-up here.
"The production of cannabis was over and above what could be for any one person's use.
"The potential value is between £17,000 and £24,000."
In mitigation Janem Jones said Webster, aged 50, who represented the UK at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, had acute depression and had contemplated committing suicide.
Mrs Jones handed magistrates a medical report for the defendant from Hywel Dda Health Board.
She said that in his time he had been a professional cyclist and an Olympian.
"During this time he spoke strongly against the use of drugs," she said. "He uses the cannabis only for medical purposes."
Mrs Jones said Webster was "desperately sorry" for committing the offence and that he would never take the Class B drug again.
Webster was committed to appear at Swansea Crown Court for sentence on Friday, May 10.
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk 12/04/2013
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