Cannabis man caught growing drugs for a second time

A housing officer spotted plants growing in the airing cupboard of the home of Martin Graham who would not let the official investigate further, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

So police were alerted and uncovered a drugs farm capable of producing up to £11,000 of cannabis when they raided the property the next day, said Miss Joanne Barker, prosecuting.

There were six plants in the airing cupboard and eight more growing under a hydroponic system in a rear bedroom of the address in Eastfield, it was said.

Graham claimed to have been asked to cultivate the drugs by an unnamed man he met while on probation for another offence.

The 47 year old said he had been promised £200 cash for the service but had been given cannabis for his own use instead and had now been evicted from the property involved, it was said.

Mr Simon Hanns said Graham would lose his current home in Newman Road, Fallings Park if jailed, leaving the 18-year-old daughter who lived with him homeless.

Graham whose 11 previous convictions included the production, supply and possession of cannabis, admitted cultivating the drug on February 18 and was jailed for 11 months.

Judge Martin Walsh told him: "Police found a modest cannabis factory in operation. I accept that you were growing for another person for commercial benefit but you have a previous conviction for a similar offence and were well aware of the fact that you were placing yourself in great peril by doing this again."