Three jailed for roles in 'professional' cannabis factory

Three men have been jailed for their part in a cannabis factory which had the capacity to generate an annual income of £170,000.

The operation was discovered when police raided a business premises in Dudley on June 7 this year.

Inside the warehouse unit rented by K.S. Ltd, officers found 64 cannabis plants and all the trappings of a 'complicated' drug-producing set-up, said Mr Stuart Clarkson, prosecuting at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The paraphernalia included an automatic watering system that fed the plants without the need for human input. The electricity supply to the business had also been diverted.

Steven Smith, Adrian Pearce and Adam McNally had lesser roles in the set up, the court was told.

The police went to the landlord who put them in touch with 55-year-old Pearce, boss of K.S. Ltd. He told officers he had sub-let the unit to Smith.

Police searched the 37-year-old plasterer's address where they found items similar to those discovered at the unit which, in turn, brought 36-year-old McNally into the frame.

Evidence from almost 80 phone calls connected the three in the cannabis enterprise.

Mr Carl Templar-Vasey, defending Smith, said his role had been limited to buying items off eBay because he had an account. He bought carbon filters, light bulbs and other necessities for which he was paid £20 an item.

"His was a lesser role and it is not accepted that he knew the scale of the operation," said Mr Templar-Vasey.

Defending Pearce, Mr Gurdeep Garcha said his client had been driven by financial difficulties to allowing his premises to be used as a cannabis factory.

Due to a downturn in work brought on by the recession he was no longer able to pay the rent on the unit.

"He knew what was going on but he turned a blind eye to it. He now understands he shouldn't have accepted the offer. He has an impressive work history and is an active member of a local charity, and many have spoken up for him. This was a one and only brush with the law," said Mr Garcha,

Self-employed fitter McNally had been tempted to do a favour for a nominal fee, transporting some of the equipment to the premises, the court heard.

Smith, of Roman Road, Warley, and McNally, of Meadowhill Drive, Stourbridge, both pleaded guilty to producing a class B drug. Smith was jailed for 54 weeks and McNally for 45 weeks.

Pearce, of Compton Court, Kinver, admitted allowing his premises to be used as a cannabis factory and was jailed for 48 weeks.

Sentencing them, Judge John Warner described the enterprise as 'a professional cannabis set-up.'