Judge insists South Yorkshire drug-offender played a significant role in £25k cannabis harvest

Police discovered 73 cannabis plants at Steven Beech’s flat on Town Lane, Rotherham, after a workman had become suspicious about electrical wiring at the property, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing on August 5.

Hannah Walker told a previous hearing an eagle-eyed workman had alerted police about the positioning of cables and officers raided the home.

Ms Walker said officers found 73 cannabis plants with a potential yield estimated at £25,380.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told Beech: “I have no doubt whatsoever you were playing a significant role. You had an operational function in the chain.

“Furthermore, this was your home where this was going on and electricity was being illegally obtained.”

Beech, aged 28, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis after the raid in March, 2019.

Beech admitted a separate matter of intimidation concerning his ex-partner from February, this year. Ms Walker said Beech had visited his ex-partner to try and stop her giving evidence against him concerning another case for which he was convicted of causing damage.

Judge Richardson acknowledged Beech has alcohol and mental health problems.

Bianca Brasoveanu, defending, argued Beech had got involved with the wrong crowd as a cannabis-user and they had taken advantage of him but Judge Richardson found he had performed an important role.

Beech was sentenced to three-years of custody. He was also given a five-year restraining order to keep away from his ex-partner.