Preston cannabis farm found in rented home

An electrical engineer who grew a cannabis farm in his rented Preston home has narrowly avoided an immediate jail term.
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Lawyers for Dominic Joseph Davis, 31, said he was using cannabis to self medicate after a work contract with the MoD in Afghanistan had left him with PTSD.

Davis was caught after police officers spotted him driving suspiciously in his blue Ford Fiesta on Ribbleton Lane at around 9.25pm on November 19 last year.

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They found he was a disqualified driver so had no insurance to drive the car.

Preston Crown CourtPreston Crown Court
Preston Crown Court

Davis was accompanied back to his home on Tennyson Place as he had no driver's ID on him, and officers could immediately smell cannabis and hear electrical fans, Preston Crown Court heard.

When confronted Davis replied: " I'm growing cannabis."

Police found 24 adult plants, 26 medium plants and 21 baby plants in a bedroom, but no valuation was given. He was taken to custody and a blood test showed he had the drug in his system.

Davis, who gave his parent's address of Hatfield Close, Birmingham, admitted producing 71 plants, possessing cannabis, drug driving and driving without insurance or a licence.

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He got eight months in jail, suspended for 12 months after the court heard he had a caution for production in 2013.

Judge Beverly Lunt forfeited the drugs and paraphernalia and said: " You can't grow cannabis - are we clear? You cannot self medicate with cannabis, it's illegal, it's against the law, you'll go to prison for it - clear?

"You can never come to court again and say you didn't know it was against the law and you can't have a spliff and then drive."

"This is going to be the one chance that you get. There's real hope for you

Davis replied: "I didn't realise, I'm really sorry."

He was disqualified from driving for a further two years.

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