Sheffield dad sentenced for cannabis business

A Sheffield dad-of-three who suffers from chronic back pain has been sentenced for growing and selling cannabis, a court has heard.
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Police discovered seven plants at Sean Murray's home when they carried out a search warrant, on February 28, 2019, said prosecutor Nicola Quinney.

The plants yielded 735 grams of the drug, valued between £3,380 and £7,350, and a further 668 grams of loose cannabis, valued between £4,000 and £6,000, was found around the house.

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The court heard he was convicted of battery in 2012 when he received a community order.

Read the latest stories from Sheffield Crown Court here.Read the latest stories from Sheffield Crown Court here.
Read the latest stories from Sheffield Crown Court here.

Tim Gaubert, mitigating, said: “He accepts there was a financial element. He suffered a very bad fall while labouring ten years ago and suffers from chronic back pain.

“He was a regular user of cannabis to deal with the pain. If he is sent to custody he will lose his job and contact with his children.”

Murray, 32, of Longley Avenue West, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to production of cannabis.

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Judge David Dixon said: "It is beyond belief that it takes the police and the CPS two years to bring a simple case like this to court.

"However, I say this day in and day out at the moment – with no explanation as to why they have failed to do their jobs."

He said Murray had made the best of the delay and was providing for his family.

He sentenced him to 16 months, suspended for 18 months, with 15 rehabilitation days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

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“If you had been before me in the summer of 2019 the reality is you would have gone to jail," Judge Dixon told him.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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