Rossendale £110k drugs 'gardener’ had leg broken (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Rossendale £110k drugs 'gardener’ had leg broken
2:00pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News
THE ‘gardener’ for a £110,000 cannabis factory claimed he had to set up the operation in a village terrace after drug dealers broke his leg.
Burnley Crown Court heard how drug user John Staunton, 48, told police officers he was thrown out of van in one incident.
He said he had been told he had to pay £800 for a £400 drugs debt, and was threatened his legs would be broken.
Months later, he was told if he looked after a cannabis farm, set up in his house, the debt would be considered settled, and he would be paid £1,200 a month.
The hearing was told how police found about 80 cannabis plants growing at the terrace home, in Market Street, Shawforth, where he lived, and which he rented from his sister, in January.
The electricity meter had been by-passed, and £2,888 power had been used.
Staunton, who is still on crutches after he says a rod was inserted into his broken leg, had a record, but nothing for drugs. The defendant admitted producing cannabis, between October last year and January, and abstracting electricity.
He was sentenced to eight months in jail, suspended for 12 months, with 12 months supervision, a four-month curfew, between 8pm and 7am, and a nine- month alcohol treatment programme.
David Macro, prosecuting, said Staunton owned up on the basis he had been put under pressure to act as a gardener. He accepted he had been paid.
Police went to the house and found four black bin liners of cannabis leaves. On the first floor, they discovered a cannabis cultivation set-up, with 32 mature plants, lighting, an industrial-type extraction unit, and the electricity meter.
On the second floor, officers discovered another growing system, with 50 plants.
Sentencing, Recorder Andrew Long said Staunton was still living with the consequences of being thrown out of the van.
He said: “This was a sophisticated, commercial set-up.
“Normally, I would have no hesitation whatsoever in sending you immediately to prison.
“However, you surrendered yourself to police, you confessed what you were involved in, and you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
“I am prepared to accept, on balance, that you were effectively coerced as to your involvement in this matter.”
Comments(6)
Babs Stanley
says...
11:00am Wed 19 Sep 12
We waste billions every year on police, court and prison resources when a large proportion of society uses cannabis without any problem at all. In fact, the only real problem with cannabis is that it's illegal.
The risks to health are very small - much, much less than alcohol or tobacco. Professor Terrie Moffitt of the Institute of Psychiatry said recently that cannabis is "safe for over 18s". If we took responsibility and introduced a tax and regulate system we could protect children far more effectively than we do at present.
We could have a properly regulated supply chain with no criminals involved, no theft of electricity, no human trafficking, no destruction of property and disruption of neighbourhoods. Then there would be some control over this huge market. There would be thousands of new jobs, sales would be from licensed outlets to adults only with guaranteed quality and safety. Then our police could start going after some real wrongdoing instead of trying to fight a crime that exists only because of a misguided government policy.
Also, very importantly, science now proves that cannabis is one of the safest and most effective medicines for a wide range of conditions. While the government promotes the lie that "there is no medicinal value in cannabis", it has granted an unlawful monopoly to GW Pharmaceuticals to grow 20 tonnes a year for, you guessed it, medicine!
Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR) published independent research last year that shows a cannabis tax and regulate policy would provide a boost to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion pa as well as reducing all health and social harms.
The only thing that keeps the present absurd status quo in place is weak politicians corrupted by Big Booze and the GW Pharma monopoly.
A R Thomas
says...
1:29pm Wed 19 Sep 12
If you just go onto Wikipedia you will read how cannabis is anti-inflammatory (great for sufferers of arthritis and multiple sclerosis), a muscle relaxant (great for sufferers of multiple sclerosis), an anxiolytic (great for chronic sufferers of anxiety and and panic attacks), an anti convulsant (great for sufferers of epilepsy), increases appetite (great for sufferers of HIV and aids and anorexia), pro apoptosis (preventing cancer and helping remove it), anti Alzheimer's and anti dementia, helps with insomnia and bad sleeps.
A lot of people suffer from chronic stress because of their environment, pace of life and way of life, this influences the immune system to attack itself (a warning system of of the body like pain), cannabinoids instantaneously actively works to do the opposite of this bringing the person to a relaxed state of being so that the immune system works with the body again.
Cannabinoids also helps in the formation of neurones and neurone networks.
Cannabis is also really good for the skin when applied topically, we have seen a huge boom in holistic products since this recognition in the field of dermatology.
Cannabis has 85 unique cannabinoids in the cannabis plant that all have a unique effect on the endocannabinoid system, all helping the functioning of many different physiological processes from eye sight and hearing to homeostatis and immunity (nervous and blood). The echinacea plant has 25 different cannabinoids in it, and it is regularly used all over the world as a herbal remedy.
Because of this thousand if not million year old innate relationship that the cannabis plant has with us it has come as a shock to humanity to find itself in disconnection with it during this current phase of its experience.
There will always be demand for it because there will always be people who appreciate and respect the magnificence of this plant and how greatly it can help support our daily lives.
Let's heal humanity back to a respectable state.
SuperSilverSourDiesel
says...
4:52pm Wed 19 Sep 12
- William F. Buckley
Cannabis is not harmless especially for children, thats why regulation is so desperately needed, as its easier for kids to get cannabis than alcohol and tobacco. However, adults can use cannabis safely and non problematically.
"By any of the major criteria of harm - mortality, morbidity, toxicity, addictiveness and relationship with crime - cannabis is less harmful than any of the other major illicit drugs, or than alcohol or tobacco."
- Report of the British Police Foundation March 2000
We need to take the control away from criminals. Bringing cannabis into a regulated market will see a decline in criminals selling it and children buying it. When a country regulates cannabis, drug use goes down and age of first use goes up. The amount of criminals selling it declines and taxation ensures a potential 9 billion per year. With out regulation, dealers sell to who ever what ever age, the only ID they need is money.
By handing the cannabis market to criminals, we are now in the worst case scenario, cannabis user or not.
"Complete prohibition of all chemical mind changers can be decreed, but cannot be enforced, and tends to create more evils than it cures."
- Aldous Huxley "Drugs That Shape Men's Minds," Saturday Evening Post 1958
Prohibition has always done the opposite of what its meant to. Its a failed experiment that is only kept alive by Greed, Cowardice, the power of the alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical companies and of course personal prejudices. It being illegal has nothing to do with Expert advice, scientific evidence or our health and safety. Just say No to prohibition, it causes more harm than cannabis ever could.
"The lesson has already been learned with alcohol prohibition. We tried to engineer an alcohol-free society and ended up with huge criminal enterprises, government corruption, children lured into organized crime and random violence that took the lives of countless innocent people."
- Kurt Schmoke, Mayor of Baltimore
moreachesandpains
says...
6:39pm Thu 20 Sep 12
moreachesandpains
says...
6:39pm Thu 20 Sep 12
accy lad and proud says...
8:51pm Tue 18 Sep 12