Burglary probe police found 80 drug plants at Willenhall flat
Police investigating a burglary stumbled across 80 cannabis plants being grown in a flat, a court was told.
Kal Deakin was caught after officers arrested another man in connection with the property raid who took them to Deakin's flat. They found that he had set up a tent, lighting and fans to grow the cannabis seedlings.
He later told police he was growing them for his own use. Mr Mark Rees, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court, that the police had been called out to investigate a burglary in Bloxwich Road, Willenhall.
He added: "They followed a man who matched the description of the suspected burglar." He was arrested and took the police to another property in Bloxwich Road, where Deakin and a third man were arrested. "While the officers were there, they became aware that cannabis was being grown at the flat," Mr Rees said.
At the back of the flat they found 80 small cannabis seedlings, along with a growing tent, lighting and ventilation fans. Mr Rees said: "The plants were very small, and because of that I am unable to give the court an estimated yield or value."
Deakin told police in interview that the cannabis was for his own use, and that they were not big enough to crop.
The 23-year-old has 14 previous convictions for crimes including criminal damage, dishonesty and handling stolen goods, the court heard. He has one previous conviction for drugs, and for that he received a conditional discharge. His last offence was committed in 2009. Deakin had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to producing cannabis.
Mr Mohammed Naser, defending, said nothing came of the burglary arrests, and that the cannabis was for his own use. He said: "Since his arrest he has refrained from cannabis use. There is a mental health condition which the defendant suffers from and he accepts this is exacerbated by his use of cannabis."
Judge John Wait told Deakin: "You know the production of cannabis and the use of cannabis is against the law. It will be a short sentence to reflect your guilty plea."
Deakin, of Bloxwich Road, Willenhall, was spared an immediate jail sentence and sentenced to two months in custody, suspended for 18 months.
