Chesterfield man caught growing 20 cannabis plants in his loft told police he was doing it to save money

A Chesterfield man who was caught with 20 cannabis plants in his loft said that he was growing them to save money.
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Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Wednesday, September 30, that police had raided the address in Clifton Avenue, Barlborough, on February 11, and discovered the 20 plants, which they said had a street value of between £3,000 and £15,000.

Karl Matthew Knowles had also wired up the house to a neighbouring property in order to conceal the grow, said Becky Allsop, prosecuting.

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Karl Knowles appeared before Chesterfield Magistrates' Court.Karl Knowles appeared before Chesterfield Magistrates' Court.
Karl Knowles appeared before Chesterfield Magistrates' Court.
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But the prosecution had accepted that Knowles, 29, of Stanier Way, Renishaw, was growing the plants for his own consumption and not to supply to others.

Mrs Allsop told the court: “He said that he had grown the plants for his own personal use and his reason for growing it was because it was cheaper than buying it.

“He was smoking 26 cannabis joints per week and it was costing him about £60 per week. He also admitted bypassing the electricity.”

Knowles admitted producing a controlled Class B drug and using electricity without authority when he appeared before the court.

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The £2,250 worth of electricity had subsequently been paid back to the utility company, the court heard.

In mitigation, the court was told that Knowles had suffered a series or recent bereavements, but had no previous convictions and was in full-time employment.

Knowles was given a 12-month community order to include 160 hours of unpaid work in the community. He must also pay £85 in costs and a £90 victim surcharge.

The court also ordered the drugs and paraphernalia to be destroyed.

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