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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Judge ‘takes a chance’ and spares drugs farmer a prison sentence
Bolton News Wednesday 19 Dec 2012 Ralph Conti, aged 38, of Church Street, Westhoughton, was arrested on Sunday, April 15, on suspicion of producing cannabis after Gavin Fleming, aged 43, was found dead in the flat they shared. Bolton Crown Court heard yesterday that police came across a “cannabis farm” of 29 plants with a street value of £12,000 when they entered the flat in Church Street following Mr Fleming’s death. The plants were in an early stage of growth and the flat contained electrical transformers for heating and lighting used to grow the drugs. Officers also found £140 in cash, a small amount of cannabis and weighing scales. When arrested Conti said the drugs were grown by him and a friend and were for their own use. Conti has six previous convictions, including for supplying heroin and for which he served a four-year jail term. But the court heard he was now said to be clean from heroin and hard working. Judge Martin Allweis, sentencing, said: “You pleaded guilty to producing a quantity of cannabis. “A quantity of cannabis is putting it somewhat kindly. Police found in the flat a cannabis farm. It doesn’t mean an odd plant or two it literally means a farm. You would have to use an awful lot of cannabis, a lot more than the claimed £10 to £20 a day to get through all that. “I am going to take a chance but you are not getting off lightly.” Conti was sentenced to an eight month jail term, suspended for two years. He must also comply with a new direction activity requirement, addressing his offending, and complete 150 hours of unpaid work. http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/10116309.Judge____takes_a_chance____and_spares_drugs_farmer_a_prison_sentence/
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