A Kenton dad has said he started a cannabis farm at his home as a result of being bored while on furlough during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Police attended the property of Steven Squibbs at around 8am on March 16 following a tip-off from a member of the public that a cannabis farm was in operation inside.
Joe Culley, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court that there was condensation on the upstairs windows and fans could be heard blowing.
Officers gained access to the rear of the property after receiving no response by knocking at the door.
Inside one of the bedrooms they discovered an illicit operation featuring a total of 30 cannabis plants, while the electricity was found to have been bypassed.
Mr Culley said: “Upstairs inside the property was a bedroom and in that room there were six lights hanging from the ceiling and the room had eight separate plug sockets, the window was blocked by materials attached to a sheet of plywood.”
Squibbs returned home while officers were still in attendance at his home and he was arrested.
The 25-year-old replied no comment when he was interviewed at a police station.
Jamie Adams, mitigating, told the court Squibbs only began cultivating cannabis out of “boredom” due to the tarmacker being furloughed by his employer.
He said: “He’s worked since he left school at the age of 16.
“He had been on furlough. Furlough isn’t what we all think it is – 80% of your earnings. He was getting £280 per week and it was proving very difficult to live on…
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A Kenton dad has said he started a cannabis farm at his home as a result of being bored while on furlough during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Police attended the property of Steven Squibbs at around 8am on March 16 following a tip-off from a member of the public that a cannabis farm was in operation inside.
Joe Culley, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court that there was condensation on the upstairs windows and fans could be heard blowing.
Officers gained access to the rear of the property after receiving no response by knocking at the door.
Inside one of the bedrooms they discovered an illicit operation featuring a total of 30 cannabis plants, while the electricity was found to have been bypassed.
Mr Culley said: “Upstairs inside the property was a bedroom and in that room there were six lights hanging from the ceiling and the room had eight separate plug sockets, the window was blocked by materials attached to a sheet of plywood.”
Squibbs returned home while officers were still in attendance at his home and he was arrested.
The 25-year-old replied no comment when he was interviewed at a police station.
Jamie Adams, mitigating, told the court Squibbs only began cultivating cannabis out of “boredom” due to the tarmacker being furloughed by his employer.
He said: “He’s worked since he left school at the age of 16.
“He had been on furlough. Furlough isn’t what we all think it is – 80% of your earnings. He was getting £280 per week and it was proving very difficult to live on…