Sheffield drug farmers’ wardrobe was “like Narnia”

A wardrobe in a Sheffield drug farmers' house was "rather like Narnia" because it led into a secret room with five cannabis plants, a court heard.
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Police raided the Keats Road home shared by Lisa Andrews and Peter Hardy on April 25, 2018, said prosecutor Stuart Baird.

As well as the mature plants in the hidden room, 52 seedlings were also discovered, along with £70 of amphetamine in a freezer.

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Messages on Andrews' phone suggested she was involved in dealing, and police experts estimated the potential yield between £2,400 and £12,600.

Image of cannabisImage of cannabis
Image of cannabis

Andrews, 44, of Halifax Road, Sheffield, and Hardy, 57, of Keats Road, Sheffield, both pleaded guilty to cannabis production at the first opportunity, and Hardy admitted possession of amphetamine.

After Recorder Richard Wright QC indicated the sentences, neither Tim Gaubert, for Hardy, nor Michael Cane-Soothill, for Andrews, made any further representations.

The judge told the defendants: "This was principally for your personal use but you had a good crop and some it was going to be sold.

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"It seems to me there is no need to send either of you to prison."

He also acknowledged there had been a long delay before their case came to court.

On Wednesday, Sheffield Crown Court heard that Andrews was of previous good character, and Hardy had one previous conviction from 2012.

They both received an 18 month community order with 20 rehabilitation days and were told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work each.

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