Man, 58, let house be used as cannabis farm  

A BRISTOL man who claims not to even smoke has admitted producing cannabis after thousands of pounds worth of the plants were found growing at his home.

Timothy Harris, 58, of Fonthill Road, was paid to let a bedroom of his terraced house in Southmead be turned into a cannabis factory.

As well as the plants, a police search also uncovered a bag of cash in another bedroom.

Harris ended up growing thousands of pounds worth of the illegal plants, which were eventually discovered by police.

He pleaded guilty to producing cannabis at Bristol Crown Court on Friday and was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.

When police visited his home they discovered 16 plants in total and five lamps all in one bedroom of his house.

Prosecuting, Kenneth Bell said: "In the other bedroom there was approximately £3,400 in a carrier bag."

He added that the plants had an estimated yield of between 400g and 3,300g with a street value of up to £8,000.

Mr Bell said: "He says he was being paid by someone else to use his house for the production of cannabis.

He added: "Police do not challenge that statement.

"He was looking after and cultivating cannabis for others."

Looking at case papers handed to him, Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC said: "He thinks cannabis should be legalised?"

Defending, Farah Rashid responded: "Although he remembers saying that, he also remembers saying he knew it was wrong what he did."

He added that Harris, who was said to be hard of hearing, does not use the drug and does not even smoke. It was also heard the defendant had a heart bypass 10 years ago.

Judge Mercer said: "This is a very odd story but I'm not sure I need to get to the bottom of it.

"He's 58 and has got a record going back to his youth but not a significant one and he has pleaded guilty to this offence so I hope this can be the last time he comes before the court."

The judge added: "I don't know what the full, true story is frankly and I have some doubts as to whether we have heard it all, but, be that as it may."

He gave Harris 100 hours of unpaid work in the community and ordered him to pay a £60 victim surcharge before releasing him from the dock.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the seized plants.

He said there may be a proceeds of crime hearing in the future.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk 26/05/2014