Cannock father who grew cannabis inside garden sheds is jailed
A father of five who let two of his garden sheds in Cannock be used for growing cannabis has been jailed for 18 months.
Police found a professional cultivation set-up in both sheds when they carried out a search raid on Stephen Morgan's home in August last year.
One had 47 healthy cannabis plants, the other 26, with sophisticated heating, lighting, ventilation and feeding processes, said Mr Pat Sullivan, prosecuting.
The electricity supply had been bypassed to power the set-up. The plants have a potential yield of over £18,000, Stafford Crown Court heard earlier this week.
Morgan, aged 47, of Walsall Road, Cannock, admitted being concerned in the cultivation of cannabis and abstraction of electricity.
Mr Rob Perry, defending, said Morgan was going to be paid £2,000. "He was aware the plants were in there and he was looking after them.
"He has allowed his premises to be used, this was the first batch of cannabis to be grown. He was driven by financial motive with five children to look after."
Judge Michael Challinor told him: "You were prepared to allow this system to operate near your home – without people like you more sophisticated criminals cannot make the large profits they do. This is a long way from a tent in a bedroom – this was almost on commercial scale."
