Cannabis farm found behind mirror
Police officers were astonished to discover a full-scale cannabis factory growing in a Wednesfield bedroom after receiving an anonymous tip-off.
It was like a scene from Narnia - but instead of a magical world of talking animals and Turkish delight, amazed police discovered a full-scale cannabis factory.
See the picture gallery below.
Officers received an anonymous tip-off telling them to take a peek behind the bedroom mirror of a modest flat in Wolverhampton.
When they arrived, they looked through the looking glass to find a secret room, packed full of healthy plants ready to harvest. The man living in the home, retired builder Mark La Moon, aged 49, had sectioned off part of his bedroom.
It was converted it into a farm to grow thousands of pounds' worth of the drug.
The partition wall had been painted to match the rest of the room, and the mirror provided a secret doorway to the illegal operation complete with heating, lights, fans and an extraction system.
Yesterday, La Moon, who has a number of convictions for growing the drug, was kicked out of his 15th floor flat at William Bentley Court in Torridge Drive, Wednesfield.
Insp Jon Turley, from Wednesfield police, said: "You wouldn't have known it was there unless you were looking for it.
"There was a great degree of sophistication in what he'd done. It's a shame he hadn't put his talent to better use."
Nick Moss, from Wolverhampton Homes, which secured yesterday's eviction, said: "Within the room, plants already harvested were drying, ready for preparation for consumption or packaged for sale. More than 20 cannabis plants were seized."
He said the plants were worth more than £8,200.
La Moon was convicted of cultivation and possession of cannabis and was given a suspended sentence. He claimed he was using the drug to relieve the pain of arthritis.
Some months later, another search of his flat found three cannabis plants. He was then jailed for three months.
In 2002, he was given a community order after police found 36 cannabis plants growing in his home in Plant Way, Pelsall, but it is not known where he is now.
Exclusive by Crime Correspondent Mike Woods nextpage
A mirror in the bedroom at a flat in Wednesbury.nextpage
The mirror is opened to reveal a cannabis factory behind it.nextpage
Inside the cannabis factory at the flat.nextpage
A close-up shot of the cannabis being grown.
