A cannabis farmer has avoided jail after nearly 120 plants worth up to £45,000 were discovered at his Tyneside home.
Grandfather Ian Howard, who has 70 offences on his record, including two for cultivating the class B drug, had been growing his illegal crop across three bedrooms at his house, in North Shields, when police searched it in December 2021. As well as 119 plants, officers also discovered cans and adhesive labels, which were linked to packaging the cannabis, in a cupboard in his utility room, a court heard.
The 53-year-old initially claimed he'd set up the farm, which involved the relevant heating, lighting, ventilation and plant food, in order to make cannabis oil for himself. However, he later conceded that he had too many plants to be consistent with just personal use.
