Sheffield judge questions drug farmer's "cannabis leaf" T-shirt in court

Judge Roger Thomas QC asked Damien Owuodzie to show him his T-shirt, when he appeared via video-link from HMP Doncaster, on Friday, before sentencing him to 15 months.

Owuodzie, 36, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis on the basis that he was just a gardener, after initially denying the charge.

He was caught "red-handed" when police raided a property in February 2020, and found 78 plants.

He rented the house off someone who knew him in early April 2019, after he was released from prison, said prosecutor Laura Marshall.

Sheffield Crown Court heard "his financial reward was somewhere to live" and he was given £500 per month to pay the rent and "whatever amenities."

"This gentleman is not a particularly sophisticated man," Ms Marshall said. "Someone took advantage of his situation. But it has been going on for some time."

Zaiban Alam, mitigating, said: "Gardeners’ personal weaknesses are taken advantage of in order to run these operations.

"He had nowhere to go. He was desperate and at a low ebb. In exchange for somewhere to live he rented the property and looked after the plants.

"He was sleeping downstairs on a sofa. All his worldly belongings were in a bin bag next to the so far.

"He is not capable of being the brains behind the operation. He wants to come out and make a fresh start. He has training in barn conversions. He wants to try and resume that work."

Judge Thomas said 4.5 kilos of the drug would have been produced and the operation was of "some size."

He told Owuodzie, who has been in custody since February 6, that the basis of his plea was an attempt to “belittle” his role as much as possible.

"You were right there on the ground floor and looking after the plants. You played a significant role.

"You need to think about how you're going to cope when you come out this time. That's the sentence. Get it served, come out and do better."

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