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UK: Prosecutors accept Gateshead cannabis farmer's 200 plant crop was for personal use Rob Kennedy Chronicle Live Monday 05 Oct 2020 Prosecutors have accepted a cannabis farmer's 200 plant crop was for personal use. When police went to the home of Alec Simpson in Gateshead, they found a "cramped" and unprofessional set up. Simpson said he was growing the cannabis for his own use as he hoped it would help with his mental health issues. Now prosecutors have accepted that version of events and instead of facing a possible prison sentence, the 42-year-old, who used to run an interior design business, was given a community order at Newcastle Crown Court. Prosecutor Jolyon Perks said it was in July last year that police attended his home in Leeming Gardens, Gateshead, for an unrelated matter. They were greeted with the distinctive aroma of cannabis and followed their noses to sniff out the crop. Although there were a large number of plants and "other items which might have suggested commercial gain", no more than 20 could have come to fruition at any one time. Mr Perks said: "The set up was described by an expert as cramped and did not bear the hallmarks of professionalism. "No more than 20 plants could reach maturity at any given time. "They are amounts usually associated with distribution and there were packets of harvested cannabis. "The prosecution say he should be sentenced on the basis he produced it for personal use." Simpson, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to producing a controlled drug and was sentenced to a 12 month community order. Judge Robert Spragg told him: "There were other items present that might have suggested commercial gain but the Crown are now content you are to be sentenced on the basis of personal use only. "You told probation you had mental health issues and you bought it hoping it would help with those issues." The court heard Simpson had done well at school and was in a management position until his mental health issues had resulted in him not being able to work in 2012. He now receives disability living allowance. Sue Hirst, defending, said money seized on his arrest should now be returned to him as he was being sentenced on the basis of there being no financial gain and Mr Perks agreed. A previous hearing was told Simpson used to have a business working as an interior designer and that he also designed other artefacts and exhibited them at galleries around the country. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/prosecutors-accept-gateshead-cannabis-farmers-19042476
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