Melford man grew cannabis in garage

A man from Long Melford who was caught growing cannabis has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Colin Davies, put his head in his hands when police went to his home and told him they suspected he was producing the drug, Ipswich Crown Court heard today (July 28).

Davies, of Swanfield, then took officers to his garage which he accessed with a keypad lock, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.

The court was told that behind two insulation panels police discovered 36 mature cannabis plants together with a sophisticated irrigation system,fans, water tanks and special lighting.

Mr Crimp said that an expert had assessed the cannabis, if it had been harvested, being worth between £2,000 and £2,500.

Davies, 43, who had previously received a police caution for producing cannabis, claimed that he was growing the drug for his own personal use.

Defending, Carolina Bracken said that Davies worked in the construction industry and had applied the same professionalism to setting up the growing operation as he would in his job.

The drugs had been intended for his own use and Davies had taken steps, including using a coded door lock, to ensure that his children would not be able to access the garage.

Sentencing him, Mr Recorder Simon Blackford said Davies had gone to considerable lengths to set up the enterprise and had made the maximum use of the space available to him.

Davies had pleaded guilty to one offence of cannabis production.

He was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community work. He must also pay £220 prosecution costs.