Hawkhurst cannabis grower caged for over two years

Christopher Rappoport

A man who set up booby traps to protect a cannabis factory at his home in Hawkhurst has been jailed for two years and 10 months.

When police officers raided 35 year-old Christopher Rappoport's property last year they discovered he had improvised traps to deter intruders and protect his illegal activity.

Officers executed a drugs warrant at the High Street address on May 16 2013. They discovered that a garage and sheds had been adapted to grow cannabis. Although no plants were being grown at the time more than a kilo of the drug was found in bags. It had an estimated street value of more than £10,000.

Dozens of other items used for growing the drug were discovered along with notes written by Rappoport containing details of cannabis nutrients, equipment and growing schedules.

One of the sheds at the property had been booby trapped. A shotgun cartridge had been placed, with a length of nylon fishing line stretched across path approaching its door. Further small explosive devices were found to have been wired up in a similar effort to deter intruders.

Rappoport was arrested and forensic checks on his computer showed he had searched the internet on a number of occasions between 2009 and 2013 on how to set up and run a cannabis factory. Pictures were discovered that showed him posing next to various components used in a cannabis factory and giving the thumbs up sign.

Despite no regular employment his bank account showed deposits between 2011 and 2013 of £30,000. Rappoport was unable to show that he had earned the money from a legitimate source and gave vague answers about doing cash in hand jobs when questioned.

He told police he had never grown cannabis and that the equipment seized from his home had belonged to a friend who had wanted get rid of it all. He claimed images of him next to cannabis factory components were taken at a friend's premises and not his own.

Regarding the booby traps, Rappoport said he was trying to protect cannabis he had bought for his own personal use from being stolen. He denied setting the devices to inflict serious injury on anyone.

Rappoport was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on August 22 to two years and 10 months in prison for producing cannabis. He was also given concurrent sentences of 18 months for money laundering, three months for possession of cannabis and 12 months for the ammunition offences. He had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing.

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/hawkhurst_cannabis_grower_caged_for_over_two_years_1_3747937 28/08/2014