Pensioner who tipped police off about his cannabis farm battles to cut jail term

Keith Rider Collier, 69, was locked up by Caernarfon Crown Court in February after he admitted producing and possessing cannabis.

But London’s Appeal Court heard it was Collier himself who tipped off police when lodging a complaint about an attack.

Collier and another man rented a property in Newtown, where cannabis with a potential street value of £69,000 was found.

The operation was uncovered after Collier was taken to Newtown Police Station after making his assault complaint.

CollierHe told officers that if they searched the Newtown house they would find cannabis, London’s Appeal Court heard on Wednesday. The judge who jailed Collier said he “played a leading role” in an “operation capable of producing significant quantities of cannabis for commercial use”.

But Collier, who had no previous convictions for drug-related crimes, is now arguing that his jail term was far too tough and should be cut.

The operation was ‘unsophisticated’ and the judge ‘erred’ in saying he played a leading role, he claims. Collier, now of The Square, Abertillery, says he did not get enough credit for his personal mitigation, including his age and medical condition.

Mr Justice Green said there were some “unusual circumstances” in the case which “we do not see referenced in the sentencing remarks of the judge”.

These included the cannabis farm being ‘only discovered because Collier went to the police seeking some form of protection from what is said to be a violent attack’.

He then voluntarily informed the police they would find those plants being grown in his home.

“There are arguments to suggest the sentence might be too high,” added the judge, who was sitting with Lord Justice Holroyde and Judge David Aubrey QC.

“We therefore propose to grant permission to appeal.”

A full hearing of Collier’s appeal is likely to take place in the new year.