Police stumble into £20k cannabis farm
Police found more than they were looking for when they went to an address to see a gas board warrant issued - and discovered a £20,000 drugs farm.
Cannabis was being grown in the front and rear bedrooms of the house in Pritchard Street, Brierley Hill, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The 39 plants being cultivated under a hydroponic system were capable of producing up to £21,000 worth of street deals of the drug, said Mr Paul Spratt, prosecuting.
Luke Zarelli, who rented the property, returned home during the raid and was arrested. "He plainly has a cannabis habit but accepted that there was a commercial element to the operation," concluded the prosecutor.
Mr Richard Davenport, defending, explained: "He has not made a penny out of this, is now living with his girlfriend and is determined to get off drugs."
Zarelli, now of Collis Street, Amblecote pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis and was given a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for two years with 120 hours unpaid work.
Judge Stephen Eyres QC told him: "I have done this because you are taking steps to make yourself clean of drugs and get work. There is a chance that you are going to be a productive member of society."
