Last updated at 14:42, Monday, 26 July 2010

A west Cumbrian farmer has been jailed for two years for running a cannabis factory in two of his sheds.

Brian Jones, of Cleator Moor: Jailed for two years after he admitted supplying cannabis, producing it and possessing it with intent to supply

Brian Jones, 58, started cultivating the drug on a small scale five years ago.

But by the time police raided Ratlingate Farm in Crossgates Road, Cleator Moor, last December he was doing it on what the judge at Carlisle Crown Court described as “an industrial scale” – making about £500 a fortnight by selling the cannabis in bulk to dealers in another part of the country.

Jones, who has rented the farm from his ex-wife ever since their marriage broke up 11 years ago, admitted supplying the drug, producing it and possessing it with intent to supply.

Prosecutor Alan Lovett told the court that when police searched the property on December 23 last year they found three 4ft “mother” plants and more than 140 smaller ones grown from cuttings, all being produced under a sophisticated system of lights and heaters.

They also discovered diaries going back to 2007, in which Jones kept records of his feeding and watering programmes.

Police experts estimated the crop could have been worth up to £10,000.

In mitigation defence barrister Lloyd Morgan told the court Jones had started by growing just enough cannabis for himself after suffering financial hardship in the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

“It started off as a small operation but it gradually escalated,” he said. “It was something he developed by trial and error over a period of years.”

In the early days he made only about £720 a year, but by last year – after he had been pressured by his customers to provide more – he was making about £9,750 profit.

But even then, Mr Morgan said, he was having to use the money to buy feed for his livestock.

“He was by no means living an extravagant lifestyle,” Mr Morgan said. “His living arrangements were quite humble. He was living in a caravan he had converted himself.”

A hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act will be held in January, at which point Jones could be ordered to pay back any profits he made.

First published at 07:14, Monday, 26 July 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk