Rising cost of cannabis in Gloucester led to man growing his own  

THE RISING price of cannabis saw a Gloucester man start growing his own in a sophisticated set up.

Around 25 plants, with a potential value of £14,000, were found when police raided a Stephen Major's Worcester Street flat on March 6.

The 30-year-old was told by a judge to stop smoking and get himself a job after he pleaded guilty to the production of the class B drug on Friday.

Prosecutor Janine Wood told the court: "It was quite a sophisticated set up with a watering butt feeding each plant.

"There was a large ventilation device and work had been done to concealing the growing.

"Sheets were put on the windows and shut across the door.

"The electricity supply had been bypassed."

She said officers discovered enough flowering head to sell for £14,000 in gram deals.

But Judge Jamie Tabor QC said: "That seems quite high. I think the defendant would have been very surprised by that.

"But the gravity of the offence is the deliberate set up and growing it."

Mrs Wood added: "In interview he said ‘I am a smoker and the price has gone up, it is hard to get hold of so me and a friend decided to set it up ourselves'."

Defending Dermot Clarke said he had been quite candid in his interview.

He told the court Major, now of Bourton Road in Tuffley, had worked occasional for his dad who ran a mobile mechanic business.

Judge Tabor replied: "Why is he not working? Why is he sat at home smoking cannabis? Whatever problem it causes, it causes lethargy."

"You are a young man, you have got a skill and you sit at home growing rather than working," he told Major.

"You should understand that the law takes a very dim view of the production of cannabis like in this case because it is premeditated and ongoing.

"It required some skill and management on a day to day basis."

The judge ordered Major to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, pay a £750 fine, £100 costs and a victim surcharge, telling him: "If you can afford the equipment you can pay the fine."

http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Rising-cost-cannabis-Gloucester-led-man-growing/story-21457639-detail/story.html 13/07/2014