A SCAFFOLDING company boss who ran a secret underground cannabis farm from his isolated country home has been jailed for four years at Lincoln Crown Court.
James Elliott allowed the farm to be constructed in underground tunnels at his premises at Walcot Fen, near Billinghay, aiming to make £1,500 a week for himself.
When detectives raided the site in January last year, they discovered 138 cannabis plants growing in underground chambers.
The sophisticated system, designed to grow cannabis on a commercial basis, was using 61 transformers and 80 halogen bulbs.
Mark Watson, prosecuting, said “The value of the cannabis plants seized was £23,000. The potential from this enterprise was 21.6kg per year which, if sold, would amount to £75,600 a year.”
Elliott later told police that, at the time, his scaffolding business was in financial difficulties and he saw the chance to make some money.
He said he was approached by two people who set up the system, and he was expecting an income of £1,500 to £2,000 a week.
Elliott, 48, of Cherry Gates, Walcot Fen, near Billinghay, admitted unlawful production of cannabis.
Judge Sean Morris told him: “This was a professionally built, hidden subterranean factory that would have turned out £75,000 of skunk cannabis a year on to the streets, creating more crime and costing the country more money.
“You were clearly a manager and organiser. Professional, organised drug producers get proper sentences.”
Richard Marshall, defending, said: “He runs a small scaffolding company. At the end of 2009, things were very difficult. He was approached by another party, a man he had known from school.
“Mr Elliott was targeted because he owns a relatively remote house which happens to have a barn attached.
“He knew nothing about cannabis or cannabis growing. He played very little part in the operation other than visiting the plants two or three times a week.”
Mr Marshall said that, at the time of the police raid, the plants had yet to yield a harvest of cannabis.
He said: “Ironically his business has since turned the corner and things are looking a lot brighter than they were 18 months ago.”
Mr Marshall said both Elliott’s wife and son were employed by his business and would lose their jobs if he were jailed.
Via: www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk