Cannabis factory discovered in mother's loft
A young mother heavily in debt allowed cannabis growers in to her home to set up a factory, a court heard.
Police carried out a raid on the home of mother-of-two Nicola Mason in Great Wyrley and immediately smelled cannabis.
Mason told officers straight away that the drugs were growing in the loft. They found cannabis plants, lighting, transformers and a water butt.
Had it been harvested the crop would have been worth up to £10,350, Miss Fiona Cortese, prosecuting, told Stafford Crown Court.
Mason, aged 30, of Tower View Road, Great Wyrley, who admitted permitting her premises to be used in the production of cannabis, was given an 18-month community order with a £60 surcharge to pay.
Recorder Ms Tina Landale told her: "More experienced criminals use people like you to allow themselves to profit from crime.
"I have been impressed with the work you have done to sort your life out."
Miss Cortese said the search warrant was executed on November 20 last year. Along with the plants and equipment, the electricity meter had been bypassed.
When questioned, Mason said the plants had been in her loft for about two weeks.
She said she met someone in a pub and they asked her to do it. She had lost her job and had children to support.
Mr Mark Nicholls, defending, said the prosecution did not dispute Mason's version of events.
He said: "She got herself in to this difficulty through financial problems."
