Ludlow man, 37, jailed for his role in cannabis farm
A man who admitted playing a role in a "professional" cannabis farm operation in Shropshire to pay off drug debts of £7,000 has been jailed.
William Baldwin, 37, of Potter Close, Ludlow, was sentenced to 20 months in prison at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.
Police recovered 112 cannabis plants from two upstairs bedrooms and a loft in April 2012 at his previous address in Bucknell, south Shropshire.
Judge Peter Barrie told Baldwin he had been heavily involved in an operation which was able to produce an annual yield of more than 6kg.
It is thought this would have a street value of around £17,000.
The court was told that the defendant had been a class A drug user for 13 years between 1996 and 2009 and had previously been convicted for supplying heroin.
But Mr Paul Smith, for Baldwin, said despite Baldwin getting off the drugs he had racked up debts of £7,000 and was being put under pressure to pay the money back.
"He was presented with a way of paying this money back which was through the cultivating of cannabis," said Nicolas Burn, for the crown.
Police were called to the Old Coach House in Bucknell where they found three cannabis plants and it then became apparent that electricity had been bypassed from a neighbouring property, where Baldwin and his partner lived.
A search was carried out at the defendants' home and 112 plants were recovered in what the crown described as a "large-scale commercial operation" involving substantial equipment.
He eventually admitted a charge of cultivating cannabis, having initially tried to claim in police interviews that it was for personal use.
Judge Barrie said: "I have to deal with you for your involvement in establishing and producing a substantial quantity of cannabis and the scale of which went beyond the drug debt.
"It seems to me you played a significant role but I do give you credit that you have made yourself free from drugs. It is an achievement you can be proud of.
"You were clearly put under intimidating pressure but that is no excuse and the serious and professional nature of this cannabis cultivation means I cannot suspend the sentence."
An order was made to destroy the plants and Baldwin will serve half his sentence in custody before being released on licence.
