A man who grew cannabis to partly fund his addiction returned home to find police officers raiding his loft.
James Eedle appeared via video link at Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Thursday, June 29, after he previously pleaded guilty to two charges relating to his involvement in a cannabis farm. Merseyside Police executed a misuse of drugs warrant at an address on East Millwood Road, Speke, on May 31 this year.
The defendant, who was out of the address when police first smashed into the property, returned home while officers were still searching for evidence. Officers noted the electricity meter had been fixed and after searching the address found 28 cannabis plants with flowering heads in the loft.
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Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, told the court seven small bags of cannabis were also found in the kitchen. Merseyside Police described the cannabis farm as a "small, commercial enterprise".
Mr Hopkins added the 28 plants would give a potential yield of between 780g and 2.3kg of cannabis. This would give a street value of between £8,000 and £35,000. In a police interview Eedle accepted he had grown the plants.
The 34-year-old had nine previous convictions for 23 offences. These included in November 2013 where he was charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine. He was given a 24 month sentence suspended for 24 months.
However Eedle could not stay out of trouble and the following July was jailed for three years for the production of cannabis. This was related to the growth of around 100 plants.
And in January 2021, the defendant was up before the courts once more, again charged with production of cannabis. He was given a nine month sentence suspended for 24 months. Mr Hopkins said the plants were seized near the end of their production - and would have yielded around two kilos of cannabis. The prosecution noted: "This was a similar operation to this case."
In mitigation, John Rowan, defending, told the court Eedle had an "unenviable record" and was disappointed to be back before the courts. He added his client accepted a prison term would be likely given his history of offending.
Mr Rowan said Eedle has a partner who has her own issues which still persist - and the pair have three young children together, one of which is just nine-months-old. The defence said a prison sentence would mean Eedle would be separated from his partner and children which would "affect them greatly". He added: "The important early month developments would not be able to take place."
The court heard Eedle had set up a business, but after it failed had reverted back to offending. Mr Rowan also said Eedle had ongoing issues with cannabis addiction, which had "a long-standing influence on his life and partly explains his role in this operation."
Since his arrest Eedle had remained clean from cannabis, his defence said, and was young enough to turn his life around. Mr Rowan added: "He's determined to be the partner and father his family deserve."
Eedle had originally appeared at Wirral Adult Remand Court on June 1 where he pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis and abstracting electricity.
Recorder Michael Blakey told Eedle, who wore a tracksuit, that he was a "youngish man with responsibilities." The judge said Eedle's young children would be influenced by his offending - and added the defendant was "not a very good role model to those children."
Recorder Blakey jailed Eedle for 12 months. Eedle will serve half the sentence before being released on licence. The defendant will return to court later this year under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
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