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UK: Drugs gang lose appeal against conviction over cannabis factory

Aimi Redfern

thisisstaffordshire

Saturday 29 Jan 2011

THREE men who set up a cannabis factory have lost their appeal against the length of their jail terms, on the same day two of them were ordered to pay back their ill-gotten gains.

Jordan Perkins, aged 30, Joseph Lyons, aged 29, and 26-year-old Peter Adams were all involved in the production of cannabis at a farm in Meerbrook, near Leek.

In October, Perkins, of Newport Road, Eccleshall, was jailed for 20 months; Lyons, of Nantwich Road, Audley, got 30 months; and Adams, of Wilbrahams Way, Alsager, received two years.

An appeal against the sentences was heard at London's Court of Appeal yesterday, on the same day they appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to face a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing.

The three defendants were caught out when police raided a garage that had been converted into a cannabis factory in October 2009.

Officers from Staffordshire Police found 192 plants on two floors, the electricity had been bypassed and there was a hydroponics system with lighting, heating, ventilation and water supply.

The plants could have produced 5.3 kilograms if they had matured, with a potential value of £15,900 if sold commercially.

Lawyers acting for the three men told the Court of Appeal their sentences were "manifestly excessive", considering they admitted the offence and showed remorse.

But the three judges hearing the case disagreed and rejected all three appeals.

Mr Justice Sweeney said: "This case does not involve large scale production. However, it did involve substantial production.

"They researched what was needed on the internet, they found the garage, purchased the equipment and set it up in working order."

Meanwhile at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Judge Granville Styler found each of the three men was liable to pay back £15,900 – the value of the crop had it matured. But the court heard the only realisable assets owned by farm worker Lyons were two cars, a Fiat Punto worth £98 and a Renault Laguna worth £100, so he was given six months to pay £198, or serve seven extra days in prison.

Prosecutor Paul Spratt told the court Adams, who worked on his family farm, jointly owned a house in Alsager and his share of the equity, together with the value of his BMW car, amounted to £8,319.

Judge Styler gave him six months to pay that sum, or face a further six-months in prison.

Legal arguments over how much Perkins should pay back are continuing and his case was adjourned.

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Drugs-gang-plead-jail-terms/article-3160300-detail/article.html

 

 

 

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