12/07/2007 00:00:00
UK: Single mum admits growing cannabis at home
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A SINGLE mother of a four-yearold child grew eight cannabis plants in
their home for her own use,a court heard on Thursday.
Rebecca Hodge,39, was arrested when police raided her house, in The
Crescent, Horley, and discovered a mini cannabis factory complete with
fluorescent lamps, timers and weighing scales, Ms Appleton, prosecuting,
told Redhill Magistrates' Court.
She had been charged with production of cannabis and bailed to appear
before magistrates on Wednesday, July 4, at 9.30am, but she failed to
attend, Ms Appleton added.
Officers arrested her at her home the next morning. Hodge was charged
with a further offence of breaching bail and was remanded in custody to
appear at court later that day, the court heard.
David Forsyth, for Hodge, said that her failure to attend court had been
a "genuine mistake on the part of my client".
But District Judge Mrs Staveley replied: "I don't accept the mistake Mrs
Hodge; you received a charge sheet and it was your duty to read it."
Ms Appleton told the court that police had recovered £780 in cash,
fluorescent lamps connected to timers and eight cannabis plants in the
raid on Wednesday, April 11.
She said that Hodge had made "full and frank admissions" to possession
of cannabis when questioned by police.
Hodge pleaded guilty to both offences of producing cannabis and
breaching bail.
Mr Forsyth said his client was a single parent with a dependent child
and had a long-standing drug problem spanning 13 years.
He recommended the case be adjourned so reports could be prepared by
probation.
Mrs Staveley, adjourning the case for reports, said: "It causes me
concern. Mrs Hodge,you have got all the paraphernalia, are cultivating
drugs at home for your own use and you also have a four-year-old child
who is being put in danger.
"But I am not prepared to deal with this today before reports."
Hodge was bailed to appear for sentencing at Redhill Magistrates' Court
at 10am on Thursday, August 2.
http://icsurreyonline.icnetwork.co.uk/
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12684
Author:
Surrey on-line via UKCIA
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