Man created cannabis farm to pay off drug debt

A man who set up a £20k cannabis farm in an upstairs flat to pay off a drugs debt has narrowly avoided being sent to prison.
Slater's lawyer told the court her client had now turned his back on drugs.Slater's lawyer told the court her client had now turned his back on drugs.
Slater's lawyer told the court her client had now turned his back on drugs.

Police found a "professional set-up" at the property in Blyth, where two bedrooms had been converted into "cannabis growing units".Newcastle Crown Court heard the two rooms contained plastic sheets, transformers, vents and 48 mature plants.The living room also contained a tent and was in the process of being transformed into another growing room.The electricity at the flat had been bypassed.Prosecutor Nicoleta Alistari told the court: "It appeared to be a professional set-up and was made to produce commercial quantities."Miss Alistari added the crop had a potential yield of up to £20,000.The court heard Denis Slater, 33, of Lingside, Jarrow, was the registered tenant at the flat when it was raided in December.Miss Alistari said: "He was arrested and interviewed and admitted the offence. He said he had a drug debt and his dealers had caught up with him."He said he had to set up the cannabis grow to be able to pay off the debt."Slater admitted producing cannabis.Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced him to 20 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements and 150 hours unpaid work.Fiona Lamb, mitigating, said Slater was a family man who worked full time and received help from a relative to pay off the debt he owed.She added her client had turned his back on drugs.