A Royal Marine has been branded a 'complete lunatic' after being dismissed for being involved in the production of 57 cannabis plants. Lennox Green, 27, from Yorkshire, has shattered his career while wasting his extortionate training for the Royal Marines over the ''ridiculous situation'' he put himself in.
Green was aware of the Royal Marine's zero drug tolerance policy and has a black mark against his name after his ''dishonourable discharge'', Hull Crown Court heard. Green confessed to producing cannabis and being concerned in supply cannabis, Hull Live reports.
David Sanderson, 44, from Hull, confessed to growing cannabis, being concerned in supplying cannabis, possessing criminal property and possessing amphetamine. Darrin Rooke, 52, of Millport Drive, off Boothferry Road, Hull, admitted producing cannabis.
Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, prosecuting, said that police went to flats in Millport Drive on September 15, 2020 after a report from a member of the public about a disturbance. They went to Rooke's flat but found nobody there.
Police discovered a cannabis grow in two rooms of the flat. One of them had 24 plants in it, with fans and lighting, and the other room had 33 cannabis plants, with fans, lighting and a dehumidifier. The plants were at various stages of growth.
Police heard a noise in a stairwell and discovered Sanderson. He had a door key fob fitting the door of the flat. He claimed that he went there to check on his friend's flat because he had seen a light on.
Sanderson's home was searched and police found £1,615 cash, skunk cannabis, amphetamine, an extractor fan, a bag containing six bottles of fertilisers and three lights. Sanderson's fingerprints were on equipment in Rooke's flat.
A telephone revealed numerous text messages relating to drugs, with pictures of cannabis plants. It was clear that the cannabis yield was not the first.
Green was involved in text messages and his fingerprints were found on a dehumidifier. Rooke was not forensically linked but it was clear from messages that he was paid in some way for the use of his flat.
The total potential street value of the 3.14kg of cannabis was £31,400 or £15,700 wholesale. Richard Butters, mitigating, said that Green had served in the Royal Marines and he had "incredibly impressive" and "glowing" references from his officers but, by getting involved in cannabis production, he had acted like a "complete lunatic, if I can put it bluntly".
The Royal Marines had a "zero tolerance" of drugs. "He has been dishonourably discharged," said Mr Butters. "His name is blighted. His career has completely been shattered.
"It's a ridiculous situation to get himself into. He has completely lost his career. He has lost that for 57 plants. He knows how stupid he has been. It's a tragedy for such a young man."
Green was now working for an energy company. Stephen Robinson, representing Rooke, said that the defendant played a lesser role. "He was in on the plan from the start," said Mr Robinson. Ben Hammersley, representing Sanderson, asked for the defendant to be given a suspended prison sentence.
Recorder Anthony Hawks said that, at the time of the offences, Green was "serving with distinction" in the Royal Marines and had undergone all the training that has brought him up to that level. "You have lost a brilliant career in the Royal Marines and thrown away all the training and the expense of raising you to the level that you achieved," said Recorder Hawks.
"That's a tragedy but it has been brought on you by yourself. I am not going to send any of you to prison because nothing would be gained by that." Green and Sanderson were each given a one-year suspended prison sentence and 80 hours' unpaid work. Green was given 10 days' rehabilitation and Sanderson 20 days. Rooke was given 50 hours' unpaid work.
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