Staffordshire businessman spared jail for £38k cannabis farm

Landscaper Dwaine Williams, a friend of murdered Burntwood company boss Richard Deakin, told a judge he was too scared to go to the police. The cannabis production set-up was discovered after a fire alert at his premises on the Birch business park in Cannock. Miss Cathlyn Orchard, prosecuting, said Williams was called to the site on April 6 last year to unlock the unit.

Inside were 75 cannabis plants, plus seedlings and 1.6kg of ready harvested cannabis. The total yield could be worth up to £33,800 on the streets.

Williams, aged 29, of Newport Road, Hinstock, Shropshire who admitted permitting premises to be used for the production of cannabis, was sentenced to ten months jail suspended for two years and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid community work.

Judge Mark Eades told him: "Cannabis is very popular in terms of production. There are large profits to be made because there is a big market out there. The temptation is to provide premises so a hydroponic system can be set up. You succumbed to the temptation as a result of being approached by others. It is not clear what the benefit to you was, I am sure you would have been paid significant reward.

"But you have no previous convictions – you have learned an important lesson, I rather doubt the court will see you again."

In a trial of issue last month, Williams asserted he was Mr Deakin's 'best friend' and attended the trial of the men accused of his murder. Afterwards he was approached by members of a gang.

"They told me they were putting this in my building and that was it. I had no option than to let them carry on. With these people there's no 'yes' or 'no', you just do what they say. If I said 'no', they could have done something to my family," he said, maintaining he had no financial reward for it.

Asked if he had received threats, he said: "Yes, I got told I would be dealt with – the exact words. If I went to the police they would find out, so I'd be dealt with anyway."

His basis of plea was rejected by Judge Eades, and Williams appeared back before him for sentence this week when his barrister, Mr Steven Masih, said his client reiterated the position he was in.

In November 2013, Williams rented the £519-a-month unit in Cannock claiming it was on behalf of his company, Staffordshire Paving, to store tools and materials, said Miss Orchard.

But Judge Eades branded it 'a typical drug producers' set up, a front masquerading as a legitimate business and the rear used for production of cannabis' and that Williams's assertions about the Anslow gang looked like 'a tall story'.