Men who kept £70k drug factory jailed

Two nextdoor neighbours who operated cannabis factories worth up to £70,000 from their homes have been jailed.

Police found more than 60 cannabis plants when they raided the properties in Primrose Bank, Langley, in April. Carl Berry, aged 51, and 47-year-old Baldev Deshi, had to be separated by security staff in the dock at Wolverhampton Crown Court after a scuffle broke while they awaited sentence.

Berry, who was described as the leader of the operation, was jailed for a total of four-and-a-half years after admitting producing cannabis and possession of the drug with intent to supply.

Deshi, who has since moved to Foley Road, Washwood Heath, Birmingham, was jailed for one year after pleading guilty to the same charges.

Mr Thomas Schofield, prosecuting, said on April 3 police arrived with a search warrant for Deshi's house.

"Police found a processed-cannabis factory, the plants had been stripped and the stems had been discarded," he said.

Officers also found skunk cannabis as well as hydroponic equipment valued at around £2-3,000.

Mr Schofield said Deshi, who was not at home during the raid, rented the house from Berry, who lived next door.

"Police spoke to Mr Berry, he was acting suspiciously, and they arrested him," said Mr Schofield. "He had a cannabis growing set-up in his front room upstairs."

Mr Schofield said police found 62 cannabis plants.

"They would have harvested around three times that amount in one year," Mr Schofield added. "They would have had a street value of between £20,00 and £70,000, depending on how many crops he had."

The court was told both men had convictions dating back to the 1980s.

Mr Sunit Sandhu, representing Berry, said it was not a large operation.

"It was for personal use, and selling to other known associates," he said.

Mr Rupert Jones, for Deshi, said he had an 'exceptionally excessive' cannabis problem.

"Any cannabis he didn't smoke himself was provided to Mr Berry for a very modest amount," he said.

Passing sentence, Judge Philip Parker said neither of them were of good character when it came to drugs.

"It's clear this operation was a commercial one, and it's clear that Mr Berry played a leading role in this operation."

He added that Deshi's role was also significant.

"You were in charge of growing the items at the property you rented," he said.

"You were doing it to satisfy your own habit, but there was a commercial element because you were getting paid to do it."