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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Four jailed for drugs factory
Reading Evening Post
Monday 18 Dec 2006 FOUR Reading men have been jailed for a total of 26 years after being convicted of cultivating hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cannabis at a factory in Oxfordshire. Christopher Bridges, 29, a 22-year-old who cannot be named, Jason Warrick, 30, and David Stannard, 35, were given long jail terms on December 1 at Reading Crown Court for their part in the drugs factory which also contained large quantities of heroin and amphetamines. This case could not be reported until now for legal reasons. More than 100 officers discovered a manufacturing plant capable of producing up to £106,000 of cannabis per year in disused buildings at Manor Farm during raids in January last year. During searches of the farm, in a country lane in Frilford near Abingdon, officers discovered a toolbox containing £236,000 of heroin and £10,000 of amphetamines. Detective Inspector Chris Biddle, of Abingdon CID, said the drugs would have been sold to users in Reading. Stannard, of Kinson Road, Tilehurst, admitted setting up the factory and also possessing cocaine with intent to supply. The court heard Stannard was the main architect of the drug ring and spent more than £10,000 setting up the sophisticated operation. While on bail for the offences of cultivating and possessing cannabis he was caught by police supplying 250 grams of cocaine at a Texaco petrol station in London Road, Thatcham, the court heard. He also admitted handling a £40,000 stolen Jaguar car. Judge David Morton Jack said Stannard was “the prime mover in the operation” and sentenced him to four-and-a-half years for cultivating cannabis, four-and-a-half years for possessing cannabis, and eight years for possessing cocaine with intent to supply, all to be served concurrently. The other three denied any involvement in the drugs ring but were found guilty by a jury at a trial at Oxford Crown Court in October. The 22-year-old and Bridges, of City Road, Tilehurst, were found guilty of cultivating and possessing cannabis, heroin and amphetamines with intent to supply. Judge Morton Jack described Bridges as the “electrician” who helped set up the hydroponics system used to grow the cannabis. He was also involved with the supply of heroin and amphetamines found at the factory. He was given two terms of four-and-a-half years for cultivating and possessing cannabis and was given an eight-and-a-half year sentence for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. The 22-year-old was described as a “henchman” and given two terms, four-and-a-half years for cultivating and possessing cannabis and seven years for possession with intent to supply class A drugs. Sentences for both Bridges and the 22-year-old are to be served concurrently. Warrick of Woods Road, Caversham, was described as having the least to do with the operation and was given two-and-a-half years for cultivating and possessing cannabis. During the trial, the jury was told the factory was in a secluded, ramshackle location which used to be a pig centre and a nursery development. DI Biddle said after the trial: “It was a substantial amount of drugs, a big hit for Thames Valley Police – one of the biggest hits the force has ever had. “We discovered a huge hydroponics set-up was in place, with cannabis skunk plants at various stages of growth. “It included a nursery area with mother plants, plants they would use for cuttings to start new baby plants growing, in the buildings. There was a total of 1,836 plants in there. “The cannabis had a street value of £80,000 to £106,000 per year. “The factory was capable of yielding three crops per year. It was huge, wholesale production of cannabis.”
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