An ex-Army serviceman who claims he had to set up a cannabis farm in his home after owing a debt to “unsavoury characters” has been jailed.
Police found a “professional” cannabis farm operation set up in the home of Jake Brian Costello after they were notified of a break-in on February 28.
Plants with an estimated street value of up to £138,000 were discovered in the Guisborough home, complete with growing tents and high-powered lighting installed.
But when Costello, 26, turned himself in a day later, he claimed he had to set up the farm after he and his family were threatened by people associated with county lines gangs after borrowing money due to financial struggles.
Costello, of High Street, Normanby, appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for production of cannabis.
165 plants
Michael Cahill, prosecuting, said police received a call at around 9.45pm to reports of a break-in at a home.
“Police arrived and found a window had been smashed and officers believed there may have been someone inside so forced entry”, he said.
“No one was present but police found a number of cannabis bushes and documentation that showed the defendant lived there.”
The next morning, Costello handed himself in to police at Middlesbrough station.
A total of 165 cannabis plants were recovered from the home, which officers estimated had a street value of between £46,000 and £138,000.
Costello gave…
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An ex-Army serviceman who claims he had to set up a cannabis farm in his home after owing a debt to “unsavoury characters” has been jailed.
Police found a “professional” cannabis farm operation set up in the home of Jake Brian Costello after they were notified of a break-in on February 28.
Plants with an estimated street value of up to £138,000 were discovered in the Guisborough home, complete with growing tents and high-powered lighting installed.
But when Costello, 26, turned himself in a day later, he claimed he had to set up the farm after he and his family were threatened by people associated with county lines gangs after borrowing money due to financial struggles.
Costello, of High Street, Normanby, appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for production of cannabis.
165 plants
Michael Cahill, prosecuting, said police received a call at around 9.45pm to reports of a break-in at a home.
“Police arrived and found a window had been smashed and officers believed there may have been someone inside so forced entry”, he said.
“No one was present but police found a number of cannabis bushes and documentation that showed the defendant lived there.”
The next morning, Costello handed himself in to police at Middlesbrough station.
A total of 165 cannabis plants were recovered from the home, which officers estimated had a street value of between £46,000 and £138,000.
Costello gave…