Mother pressured into cannabis farm set-up

Police discovered £9,900 worth of the drug and a “sophisticated” hydroponic system in a tent in a spare room beside the bedroom of Emily Brown’s children.

Police had called at the address in Talke Road, Delves, on November 14 on an unrelated matter when they smelled cannabis and saw some of the drug on a kitchen work surface, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

Brown then admitted that it was being grown upstairs, where there were 22 plants up to 2ft high under cultivation, revealed prosecutor Mr Alka Brigue.

Brown, aged 32 and of previous good character, told officers that she had been pressurised into allowing the drugs to be grown on the premises by a boyfriend she declined to identify, concluded Mr Brigue.

Mr Christopher O’Gorman, defending, said: “She was told that she would be given £100 for Christmas presents for the children but did not even get that.”

Brown admitted allowing premises to be used for cannabis production and was given a six-month jail sentence suspended under supervision for 18 months, ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work and told to pay £440 costs.

Judge Michael Challinor said: “Innocent people are being trapped into this type of crime by drug dealers who simply reap the benefits.

“I accept that you were drawn into this by naivety. You felt you could not get out of it and were to some extent relieved when the police arrived.”