Businessman claims £50k drug farm was for own use
ABUSINESSMAN who claimed a £50k cannabis farm found in his home was ‘for personal use’ has been told it would take him NINE years to smoke the crop.
Benjamin Short, 39, was hauled to court after police found 44 plants one of the bedrooms in his six- bed house. There was also a sophisticated set of hydroponic systems with UV lights, thermometers and ventilation.
At Macclesfield magistrates’ court, Short, of Chester Road, Macclesfield, admitted the charge of producing cannabis on the basis that it was for personal use.
But a drugs expert for the prosecution claims the yield would take him nine years to consume by himself.
Because the issue could make such a substantial difference to Short’s sentence the court has set a newton hearing for January 3.
Shaun Draycott, defending, said: “Mr Short admits the offence on the basis that the cannabis was seized from his home address on Chester Road and it was for his own personal use.
“The prosecution’s argument is that this was a sophisticated operation with a fairly substantial yield and that Mr Short is commercially minded.
“He is 39-years-old and runs a profitable business. He has no need to delve into the murky world of cannabis production and dealing.” But prosecutor Marie Haydon said the basis of the argument could not be accepted.
She said: “There were hydroponic tents and a sophisticated set up.
“Our expert says that the 44 plants found at the property could produce cannabis with a street value of £16,000 to £50,000.
“If this was all for his own use it would take him nine years to consume the lot.” Short was bailed to attend Stockport magistrates’ court on January 3 for the newton hearing.
After the hearing, a spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “Following information received about cannabis being grown at the house, a warrant was executed at an address in Chester Road Macclesfield on Wednesday 23 March 2016.
“One of the six bedrooms housed the three tents containing cannabis plants, hydroponic systems with UV lights, thermometers and ventilation systems.
“Short wasn’t at the house. He later voluntarily attended to be interviewed under caution, then was summonsed to court.”