A pair of cannabis growers were sniffed out by quick-witted police after they were stopped for driving a van erratically in a town centre.
Officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis when they stopped Andrew Gillespie for jumping a red light in Kingsteignton and found a large amount of hydroponic growing kit in the back of his white van.
They raided the houses where he and his passenger Simon Redgrave were living and found a two-stage growing operation with seedlings at one house and mature plants at the other.
Two tubs containing more than three kilograms of harvested skunk with a street value of up to £30,000 were also found at Redgrave’s home.
He was off work after injuring his legs in a series of motorcycle accidents and started growing the drugs to use for pain relief, Exeter Crown Court was told.
Redgrave, aged 27, of Longford Lane, Kingsteignton, and Andrew Gillespie, aged 31, of Southdown Avenue, Brixham both admitted production of cannabis. Redgrave also admitted possession with intent to supply.
Redgrave was jailed for 22 months, suspended for two years, and curfewed for four months and Gillespie was jailed for 14 months, suspended for two years with a two-month curfew.
Assistant Judge Advocate General Alistair McGrigor told them: ’I am taking a chance on you. You are in the last chance saloon.’
Mr Michael Brown, prosecuting, said police saw a white van in Exeter Road, Kingsteignton, on the night of May 11 last year and stopped it because it contravened a signal and the driver appeared to be lost.
He said: ’The officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis from the area of the front seats. Cash amounting to £349.67 was found and in the rear of the van there was a large quantity of hydroponic equipment, lights, and heaters.’
Police searched both homes and found eight mature plants at Redgrave’s home and 25 young plants at Gillespie’s former home at Furze Cap, Kingsteignton.
Redgrave’s plants had a yield with a potential value of £1,600 to £6,700 and the two tubs of harvested buds had a street value of £22,000 to £30,000. A bundle of £110 cash was found hidden in the arm of his sofa.
Gillespie’s 25 plants had a potential value of £5,000 to £21,000 depending on yield and how many survived.
Mr Martin Salloway, for Redgrave, said he suffered a series of motorcycle accidents which prevented him from working and led him to use cannabis for pain relief.
His use of the drug increased and he began to grow it for his own use before becoming involved in selling it.
Mr William Parkhill, for Gillespie, said he sought help for gambling problem and is engaging with the addiction service Rise to address his cannabis use. He is now working as a carer on a zero hours contract.