Chef grew £15k cannabis at pole dancing gym

A chef is no longer working at a Wishaw restaurant after he admitted growing over £15,000 worth of cannabis in a pole dancing gym.

James Owens, who had been employed by Phileas Fogg World Buffet, was snared when police showed up to the gym in Kirkintilloch.

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

Owens, also from Kirkintilloch, pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court last week to producing and being concerned in the supply of the class C drug between September and December 2015.

The court was told the premises a Campsie Road in the north of the city operates as a pole dancing premises by a relative of 37-year-old 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 he was involved in the cultivation.

Procurator fiscal depute Amel Elfallah said:“He told police he had been growing plants for about 12 weeks and that the first crop had been given to the person who had given him the equipment.

“He advised the police that he was in financial difficulties and that it was his intention to sell the next crop to relieve that.”

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

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

A Phileas Fogg spokesperson declined to comment on the case but confirmed Owens was no longer employed by the company.