Siblings in court over drugs farm
ADRUG dealer who harvested a ‘£12,700’ cannabis set-up at his sister’s house has avoided jail.
Sam Clarke, 23, produced 12 mature cannabis plants at Leanne Shorrock’s family home on Avenue Parade in Accrington where she was living with her two children and partner David Harris.
Burnley Crown Court heard how police executed a warrant at the property on October 27 last year and found the cannabis set-up in the attic along with lamps, transformers and extraction fan.
More cultivation equipment was also found in the main bedroom.
Clarke, of Avenue Parade, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and was given a 15-month jail sentence, suspended for two years with 120 hours unpaid work an a 50-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Shorrock, 29, and Harris, 36, also of Avenue Parade, both pleaded guilty to knowingly permitting the production of cannabis at their property.
Shorrock was given an 18-month community order with a three-month curfew order and Harris was given a 20-month jail sentence, suspended for two years with 200 hours unpaid work.
Marianne Alton, prosecuting, told the court that Shorrock had pleaded guilty on the basis that she knew the cannabis was being grown for a ‘short period of time’, she told Clarke to remove it and when he failed to do so she ‘turned a blind eye to what was going on’.
The court heard how all three defendants voluntarily attended Accrington police station for interviews and Clarke made ‘full and frank admissions’.
Daniel Prowse, defending, Clarke, said there was no evidence linking him to the offence except his confession.
Mr Prowse said Clarke disputed the estimated 893g cannabis yield reported by the police saying it was worth less than the £12,700, the prosection had claimed. But Clarke accepted he grew it for ‘financial reward’.
Adrian Williams, defending Shorrock, said she has no previous convictions and is suffering from depression after having a miscarriage in March this year. He said: “It has had a significant effect upon her and is still very raw indeed. She is a young lady who will never come before the courts again.”
Fabricator worker Harris, defending himself, said he was trying to help a ‘desperate’ family member adding: “I didn’t think, I just wanted to help him out.”