Chef caught growing cannabis in pole dancing club

A CHEF is facing jail after he admitted growing more than £15,000 worth of cannabis in a pole dancing gym.

James Owens, 37, was snared when police showed up to the premises.

They found 40 “mature” plants in tents worth up to £400 each, and another 40 small plants.

Owens, from the same area, pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday to producing and being concerned in the supply of the class C drug between September and December 2015.

The court was told the premises at Campsie Road, Kirkintilloch, operates as a pole dancing premises by a relative of Owens, and police had “cause to attend”.

They were allowed in and it was heard that it “became clear there were a number of plants being cultivated that appeared to be cannabis”.

Owens – who has a similar previous conviction – was detained along with others and during a police interview admitted that he was involved in the cultivation.

A search of the premises re- vealed two large growing tents with 40 mature plants that would be worth around £400 each.

Defence lawyer James Reilly said the dad-of-two is expecting his third child and is a chef in Wishaw.

Sheriff Paul Crozier deferred sentence until next month for reports and continued Owens’ bail.