Burglary call led to Bradford cannabis find (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Burglary call led to Bradford cannabis find

9:00am Friday 3rd August 2012 in News By Steve Wright, Crime Reporter

Police uncovered a cannabis farm by accident as they investigated a burglary at the house where it had been set up, a Court heard.

Officers discovered two bags of cannabis, each weighing an ounce, and with a total street value of £460, in the living room of the three-bedroomed terraced house in Manchester Road, Bradford.

Elsewhere in the house were found 30 small plants which were being propagated, and another 17, also in the early stages of cultivation, in a bedroom. A “mother” plant was found at the top of the cellar steps.

Prosecutor John Topham told Bradford Crown Court a scientist had found it was likely there had been an earlier cannabis crop and there was the potential for a third crop.

The tenants of the property, Timothy Nutter and David Wilson, were arrested and were yesterday given suspended prison sentences after pleading guilty to producing cannabis.

Mr Topham said police made the find of cannabis, in August last year, “to some extent by accident”.

He said: “The defendants arrived home to find they had been burgled. Two police community support officers were outside and saw the defendants coming out. Thinking they were the burglars, the officers went inside.”

Mr Topham said Wilson handed over a small bag of cannabis from the kitchen. A search by officers revealed the cannabis plants.

Judge John Potter told the defendants they were not strangers to the use of cannabis. He said there was no suggestion of significant commercial activity.

But the judge said: “You both played a significant role in the production of cannabis in those premises.”

He said the drug caused harm and added: “You knew what harm you were contributing to by cultivating that cannabis.”

He sentenced both men to six months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months.

Wilson, 26, of Armley Grange Crescent, Armley, Leeds, was ordered to do 200 hours’ unpaid community work.

Nutter, 27, of Westover Road, Bramley, Leeds, who had previous convictions for drug dealing, was also ordered to do 200 hours’ unpaid work, with an intensive community order, drug rehabilitation requirement and supervision.