Man grew drug to settle his debt

COUNTRY sportsman Ralph Chambers was pressurised into growing cannabis in his loft to settle a debt.

The 65-year-old who was of "impeccable" previous character, was caught with £10,000 of the drug growing in his home at Hickley Gardens, Brockworth.

Chambers, who works as a beater on pheasant shoots in the Cotswolds, admitted producing cannabis, abstracting electricity and failing to comply with his firearms certificate.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC gave him a nine-month jail term suspended for two years, a 7pm to 6am tagged curfew for three months, a two-year conditional discharge, £250 fine and £80 surcharge.

The judge said the case merited immediate jail but he took into account that Chambers had been coerced by someone and was not directly involved in the drug production himself.

However, said the judge, this would be the last time he would accept such a defence as a reason for avoiding prison. Judge Tabor said: "I am sending out a message that is going to be clear once and for all.

"This is the second time recently that a man of good character who would not bring suspicion on himself has been prevailed upon by bad men to harbour drugs, either by growing them or hiding them.

"This is becoming more prevalent and it has got to stop - to protect the likes of you and to protect the public at large. From now on, anyone who finds themselves in the position of being leaned on by bad men to hide or grow drugs can expect no mercy - they will be sent to prison regardless."

The judge told Chambers he "should have been stronger" and refused to allow the drug- growing operation in his home.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner said police raided Chambers' home and found six large cannabis plants, 23 smaller ones and 80 seedlings in the loft. There was potential for more than a kilo of cannabis worth over £10,000, he said.

During the raid police found he had left rifle ammunition out loose when it should have been secured in a gun cabinet. They also found he had been stealing electricity to power the heat and light of the cannabis-growing operation.

Jon Holmes, defending, said Chambers had been vulnerable at the time and was remorseful.

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk 12/08/2013