Poole stage worker had cannabis factory

Martin Simmons, 63, sold the drug in bulk to dealers for the past four years after cultivating it in a “sophisticated” operation in his Poole home.

The defendant made admissions to police, who came across the cannabis farm while carrying out enquiries following reports of suspicious activity in Copeland Drive area where he lived.

Simmons said he had been growing cannabis for some time although he was only charged in relation to what officers located at the property on December 1 last year.

Police seized 24 cannabis plants

Judge Jonathan Fuller QC, who jailed the defendant for 12 months at a Bournemouth Crown Court hearing on February 4, said only an immediate term of imprisonment would meet the seriousness of the offence, based on the facts of the case.

“This was in a sense a commercial operation supplying dealers who would then go on to supply users on the street,” said Judge Fuller QC.

Prosecuting, Rob Welling said it was not known exactly why police were in Copeland Drive but upon knocking on Simmons’s door an officer immediately noticed a “very strong smell of cannabis”.

The defendant gave admissions about what he had been doing.

A cannabis grow consisting of 24 plants was found in a room off the kitchen, while a further unit was found upstairs. Simmons said the crop found was expected to yield £5,000 from bulk sales to dealers.

The set up was described as sophisticated in court

Referencing other material found by police, Mr Welling said: “This plainly wasn’t the first crop.”

The prosecutor said Simmons had extracted an “extreme amount of electricity” to run the cannabis farm.

Mitigating, Tom Acworth said his client, who had previously worked on international productions as a stage technician, had “behaved frankly with utter stupidity”.

The court heard Simmons’ work started to dry up and he began his criminality.

“He was unable to afford his rent and fell into financial difficulties and it is in that context that he made the extremely stupid decision to begin selling cannabis to finance his life,” said Mr Acworth.

The cannabis farm at the defendant's home

The barrister said the defendant, who previously pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and using electricity without authority, still had debts with various banks that totalled £15,000.

Mr Acworth said being caught had given Simmons “the kick that he needed to get his life back in order”.

Taking into account his age, his health difficulties, his previous good character with no prior convictions and the prospect of rehabilitation, Mr Acworth asked the judge to suspend the sentence.

Martin Simmons

Judge Fuller QC said the defendant “seized the opportunity to produce cannabis and became involved in supplying to dealers”.

He added: “In my view of the facts I have got to deal with, a suspended sentenced would not meet the seriousness of this offence.”

Judge Fuller QC ordered forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis and equipment seized.