Three men caught by police dismantling a £69,000 cannabis factory have been jailed.
Three men caught by police dismantling a £69,000 cannabis factory have been jailed.
Wayne Gloster, Joseph Foster and Alexander Bills were jailed after they were found removing more than 170 cannabis plants from a rented property in Hurst Green Road in Halesowen on July 24 last year.
A fourth defendant Michael Smith was given a suspended sentence.
Wolverhampton Crown Court was told on Wednesday that an agent had been sent to the house to carry out an inspection of its condition.
Mr Simon Warlock, prosecuting, said: “The agent wasn’t allowed access and the police were called.
“When they attended various items were being loaded into a Mercedes Sprinter van being driven by Mr Smith and a Ford Transit which was driven by Mr Gloster. This included 173 cannabis plants and electrical equipment.
“The Mercedes vehicle was followed by police and when stopped it smelt of cannabis.”
Gloster’s transit van was tracked down to the Birmingham New Road in Dudley.
It was cornered by police but this didn’t stop the 39-year-old from trying to escape.
Mr Warlock said: “Mr Gloster then drove at the police officer who had put his hand to stop the defendant from getting away.
“He mounted a grass verge to try and escape but a slip road was fortunately blocked by police and he was unable to go any further.”
Police searched the house in Halesowen and found evidence of a cannabis factory.
There were plastic sheets, windows taped up and remnants of cannabis on the floor.
In one of the vans they found 173 cannabis plants, compost and electrical wiring.
Mr Warlock said: “It was typical of a sophisticated cannabis factory. Officers valued the cannabis at around £69,000.”
All four men were arrested and pleaded guilty to possession with intent of class B cannabis but with mitigating circumstances.
Bills, 26, and Smith, 53, admitted their part on the basis they hadn’t initially been aware of the cannabis factory.
Mr Jas Mann, defending, said Foster, 35, had been promised £100 to carry out the work but didn’t receive the money
Gloster, of St Marks Road, Dudley, pleaded to the same charge but said he hadn’t set up the factory. He also admitted to the dangerous driving offence but claimed he had no intention on injuring the officer.
He was jailed for two years for both counts and banned from driving for 24 months.
Bills of Overbury Road, Northfield, Birmingham was given 46 weeks in custody. Foster, of Trafalgar Court, Tividale, was handed a 39 week jail term.
Smith of Hawkestone Crescent, West Bromwich, was given a 39 week sentence suspended for two years. He must also be supervised for two years.
Three jailed over £69000 cannabis factory
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