The great grandson of Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien has been cleared of dealing drugs from his Black Country shop after telling a court he had no need to do so because of the “spectacular” financial rewards the films had brought him.
Piers Crombleholme, aged 27, had owned up to growing 39 cannabis plants but claimed they, along with pots of the drug found elsewhere at the store in Hall Street, Dudley, had been for personal use.
A jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court took just 80 minutes to return a unanimous verdict of not guilty on the charge of possession with intent to supply yesterday.
“The last three years have been spectacular for the Tolkien Trust,” Crombleholme had told the court, earlier in his trial.
“There would be no need to supply cannabis mainly for exactly that reason.”
The court heard he had received more than £100,000 during the Trust years.
Police discovered the plants along with various jars containing cannabis when they raided Crombleholme’s store Chalkline, which also sells knives, air guns, and legal ‘herbal high’ tablets, in March.
Speaking after the case yesterday Mr Crombleholme said he was happy with the verdict. “To hear the jury say those words ‘not guilty’ was a big relief,” he said.
Under cross-examination, he had earlier voiced his own opposition to the legalisation of cannabis.
“Cannabis should probably stay illegal, that’s my honest opinion,” he said.
Crombleholme was also asked if, in view of the fact he sold cannabis seeds, scales and sealable plastic bags at the shop, he had a lot of people asking to buy cannabis itself.
“All the time, but all the time I tell them no,” he said. He said £280 cash at the shop was legitimate takings.
Judge Michael Challinor adjourned sentencing on charges of possession and production of cannabis pending reports.
Crombleholme was bailed to return to the court on October 29.
By Richard Williams
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