Two wannabe drug merchants harvested up to £10,000 worth of cannabis plants – but made zilch from their ill-fated cultivation enterprise.
Dawn Cain, 54, and her nephew David Harris, 37, jumped into their cultivation project after Cain had swotted up on cannabis production on the internet, York Crown Court heard.
But after rigging up the cannabis farm at Cain’s flat in York, the hapless duo finally came to the realisation that their ill-fated criminal enterprise was doomed to failure.
This much was clear from a message Cain sent to her nephew expressing her “excitement” at finally selling some of the cannabis at a “discount rate”, said prosecutor David Povall.
Harris, of Bradley Crescent, Rufforth, admitted being concerned in the production of cannabis and appeared for sentence on Wednesday (April 6).
Cain, of Martins Court, York, was due to be sentenced at the same time after pleading guilty to cannabis production and possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply but had an excusable reason for her non-attendance and had no legal representation on the day.
Prosecutor David Povall said the cannabis crop was discovered by chance after paramedics went to Cain’s home following “concerns about her welfare”.
The first aiders contacted police who turned up at the flat on May 3, 2020, to find the spare room had been converted into a cannabis factory, complete with a “reflective tent”, ventilation systems and special lighting to aid cultivation.
They found 16 cannabis plants, fertiliser and other growing aids. They discovered what initially appeared to be 2.5 kilos of harvested skunk cannabis, a potent variety of the Class B drug.
“Further investigations, including telephone analysis, revealed that the householder, Dawn Cain, was in contact with her nephew David Harris and that they were involved in an arrangement to produce cannabis in her address for onward sale and in anticipation of financial return,” said Mr Povall.
“It appears that Dawn Cain had the hands-on involvement with the crop, looking after it, harvesting it, and feeding it. David Harris was providing support and advice to her. There are discussions about seeds being ordered and delivered to her.”
Mr Povall said that “given the amount of cannabis, it appears the production had been going on for some time – with either no or minimal sales”.
“That was reflected in telephone messaging where Cain contacted Mr Harris in some excitement, saying she had managed to sell some of the cannabis at a discount rate and that, finally, there was some money for them and some repayment for all their hard work,” added the barrister.
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He said the harvested cannabis found at Cain’s flat was worth between £7,500 and £10,500 if sold in ounce deals, and that this was a “conservative” estimate.
Ben Campbell, mitigating, said if Harris had started the cultivation scheme with the expectation of making money, “he never got any at all”.
Harris, who appeared in court via video link, had never been in trouble before, had a young family and had always worked.
Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, gave Harris a nine-month suspended prison sentence, 150 hours’ unpaid work and ordered him to complete up to 15 days’ rehabilitation activity. He was also made to pay a £156 statutory surcharge. Cain will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.