A CROWN court judge is to sentence a Penrith woman who has been convicted of producing cannabis.

Laura Robinson, 43, had denied the offence but was convicted after a trial at Carlisle’s Rickergate court which lasted several hours. Prosecutors said she grew 23 cannabis plants - a controlled Class B drug - in early 2020.

The offence was committed between January, 2020 and April 11 of that year, prosecutor George Shelley told magistrates.

After finding her guilty, magistrates said the case was serious enough to warrant sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court. They sent the case there for a hearing on October 10. The defendant, of Castle Terrace, Penrith, was represented by defence lawyer Steven Marsh.

Growing cannabis is an offence in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, unless the producer has a Home Office licence to do so.