A father of six was today behind bars after allowing a cannabis factory to be set up in his loft.
Christopher Belle, 50, of Hawbush Road, Walsall, allowed the set up to be put in his loft and was rewarded in cash and drugs, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
Mr Rob Edwards, prosecuting, told the court that more than £2,400 was found in cash when police searched his home last year.
He told the court that police executed the search warrant on November 30 and told police straight away where the drugs were.
He said: “He took the officers to a loft where they found cannabis plants.
“When interviewed he told officers he had lived there for 12 months but hadn’t set it up.
“He admitted that he sold some cannabis but gave details of financial problems.
“£2,450 was also seized during a search of the property.”
Miss Elizabeth Lambert, for Belle, said her client was relieved when the police executed the warrant.
She said: “He provided access for others to the loft by giving them keys.
“He did receive some financial support for being involved in this.
From the very outset he co-operated with police. He allowed them into the property and showed them where the set up was and indicated to the probation service that he was relieved police arrived and had put an end to this.
“The supply of cannabis was limited to social supply.”
She said due to the break up of his previous relationship he was left with a mortgage to pay for and he could not afford it.
Belle admitted one charge of production of cannabis, one of supplying drugs and one of possessing criminal property.
Judge John Wait sentenced him to 20 months in prison for each offence, to run concurrently.
He said: “It is very sad to see a man of your age who had lived down the difficulties you had in your past in court.
“I accept that when you became involved in these matters you were in professional and financial difficulties, and I accept that you felt unable to cope.
“But the unfortunate fact is that you came to be involved in organised crime, in the commercial production of cannabis.
“I accept that you were not the initiator but you were being rewarded.”
Father-of-six allowed house to be used as cannabis factory
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