Green fingered Dawlish cannabis grower would have ‘had smoke coming out of his ears' if he had used it all  

A cannabis user was so successful at growing his own crop that a judge told him he would have ‘had smoke coming out of his ears' if he had used it all himself

Ground worker Kevin Fenton converted the loft of his home in Dawlish, Devon into a miniature cannabis farm with lights, heaters, extractor fans and a power lead channelled through a cupboard in his bedroom.

He was found with 26 growing plants and more than £4,000 worth of harvested drugs when police raided his home in February.

Fenton was found with 435 grams of cropped bud and told officers he smoked an ounce and a half a week while holding down a £400 a week job as a ground worker on building sites all over Britain.

Fenton, aged 41, of First Avenue, Dawlish, admitted production of cannabis and was jailed for eight months, suspended for two years and ordered to pay £435 costs by Judge Phillip Wassall at Exeter Crown Court.

He told him:"The trouble with such gross overproduction is that there is no way you were going to smoke the 400 grams which were seized before another 400 grams or more would have replaced it. There is a risk some would have found its way onto the open market.

"You are 41 and your use of cannabis has got you into some difficulties. You started to grow your own but with 26 plants you would have had smoke coming out of your ears. You were never going to smoke that amount."

Mr David Bowen, prosecuting, said police executed a warrant at Fenton's home on February 21 and found a large amount of cannabis growing in the attic.

He said:"There was lighting, ventilation, and fans designed to expel air and power cables which ran from a bedroom wardrobe to provide the electricity supply to the hydroponic unit.

"There were 26 plants, one of which was described as large, five as medium, and 20 smaller plants as well as cutters and other paraphernalia.

"Some 436 grams of herbal cannabis were recovered which a police drugs liaison officer estimated would have a street value of £4,286.50.

"He said all the cannabis was for his own personal use and an interrogation of his phone showed no evidence of supply. He said he was earning £400 a week and using an ounce and a half of cannabis a week and never sold it."

Mr Tom Bradnock, defending, said Fenton is taking steps to address his cannabis use and although he was willing to work with the probation service or do unpaid work, this was impractical because he was working all around the country.

He said he was able to pay costs despite having personal debts.

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Green-fingered-Dawlish-cannabis-grower-8216-smoke/story-22946478-detail/story.html 18/09/2014