A 50-YEAR-old man has been jailed for growing £70,000 worth of cannabis, which he claimed was for his personal use.

Christopher Dalby’s home was raided by police in June 2021 after they suspected the property was being used as a cannabis farm.

Officers found 45 plants growing in his cellar, as well as a substantial quantity of loose cannabis in bags and vacuum packs.

In total, with the yield of the plants included, officers estimated there would be 9kg of cannabis in total, with a street value of £70,000.

Dalby, of Railway Street, Bierley, admitted producing a controlled Class B drug – cannabis – but told officers he smoked cannabis daily and it was for his personal use alone.

He was jailed for two years.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Christopher DalbyChristopher Dalby (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

The prosecutor in the case told Bradford Crown Court that Dalby had told officers while he was being transported to the police station that it was for him to smoke himself, and he would probably give some to a couple of friends.

He added that there was evidence to suggest the plants found were not Dalby’s first grow, and that it could lead to a significant financial gain.

The court was told by Dalby’s barrister, that he had first begun using cannabis at age 15, following his father’s death when he was just ten.

She added that Dalby had a £180-a-week cannabis habit, and that he had simply misunderstood how much cannabis would be produced from each plant.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Bradford Crown CourtBradford Crown Court (Image: T&A)

“It was for his own personal use – he genuinely did not anticipate the level of growth,” she said.

“It was his lack of knowledge and understanding that the plants would flourish to this extent.”

She added that since the arrest he has been confronting his cannabis abuse and has managed to cut it down to around £40 a week.

Judge Nadim said his operation was “capable of producing significant quantities for commercial use” and there was evidence that earlier crops had already been harvested.

He added: “I accept that you have been using cannabis for a prolonged period of time – that you were using about £180 worth of cannabis a week.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Stock image of cannabis plantsStock image of cannabis plants

“In these circumstances, the vast majority of the cannabis you were growing was going to be circulated into the community – it’s on that basis that I sentence you.”

“The consumption of cannabis leads to a variety of social ills – affecting the health of the user, but also the community through crimes to fund the cannabis habit. You are an example of this.”

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