Footballer jailed for his part in £100k cannabis racket
A footballer who played for a Walsall-based club caught involved in a cannabis growing operation worth up to £100,000 has been jailed.
Aaron Farrell, who played Rushall Olympic until the winter, was prisoned for two years for his involvement in the scheme in Stourport in Worcestershire.
Farrell, 28, of Langley Park Way, Sutton Coldfield, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court this week after he admitted production of a controlled Class B drug last September.
Football club officials today revealed their shock and said they were unaware of the court proceedings against Farrell, who also played for Kidderminster Harriers.
It started when West Mercia Police was called to premises at an industrial estate off Sandy Lane in the Worcestershire town on September 30 last year.
A search warrant was executed and officers discovered a total of 135 plants inside of the building.
Farrell was outside and tried to make off but was caught by officers and subsequently charged in connection with the production.
It is believed the cannabis discovered last autumn was worth between £50,000 and £100,000.
The forward had two spells at Kidderminster in 2003/04 and then again in 2009/10. During his career he also played for Solihull Borough, Worcester City, Sutton Coldfield Town and Tamworth.
He joined Rushall, who compete in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League, at the start of the season, but suffered an injury which had stopped him from playing.
Bosses at the club, who are also known as the Pics and play in Daw End have spoken of their surprise.
Vice-chairman Nick Allen said: "We are as shocked as anybody. He started the season with us in August and scored a number of goals.
"He played for us a few years ago so we knew of the lad. On the park and off the park his attitude was first rate.
"He got injured in October time, a hernia injury, and since that point he has been looking after himself.
"We thought he might get in touch pre-season.
"We can only talk about the lad from his time playing with us. On and off the park he conducted himself very professionally.
"It is difficult to look at people's personal circumstances, we are a football club. We are as shocked as everyone else."
Dave Pountney, a member of the Kidderminster Harriers Independent Supporters Trust, added: "I don''t know him off the pitch, I only knew him as a footballer. He was a quick forward when he played but he didn't make much of an impact."
