MARSHLAND ST JAMES: Dope farmer grew his crop below ground
A man found growing cannabis in a hidden underground container has been warned to expect a prison sentence.
David Smith was cultivating 52 cannabis plants in a container buried next to his caravan on a travellers’ site in Marshland St James.
The 29-year-old was caught red-handed when police spotted him watering the plants in August last year.
Smith, who now lives on Saddlebow Caravan Park in Lynn, appeared before West Norfolk magistrates on Friday and pleaded guilty to a charge of being concerned in the production of the class B drug.
Yvonne Neill, prosecuting, told the court Smith was caught when police visited his former address at a caravan park in Jubilee Lane, Marshland St James.
She said: “He lived on a caravan park and within his pitch there was a large underground hole with a container where cannabis was being grown.
“They caught him watering the plants.
“It must have taken a large amount of effort to install the container there.”
She also said there were too many plants for Smith’s personal use.
Ms Neill told magistrates that Smith had played a “significant role in the production of cannabis” and that their maximum six-month prison sentence would not be enough.
She said: “The starting point for someone involved in a lesser role of production is 12-months so your powers of punishment are insufficient.”
Smith was committed to Norwich Crown Court for sentencing on a date to be fixed.
He was released on unconditional bail until then.
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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