03/11/2007 00:00:00
UK: Cannabis Equipment Trio are Warned they Could be Jailed
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Cannabis Equipment Trio are Warned they Could be Jailed.
Three men who sold equipment to help cannabis growers produce the drug
are facing prison sentences.
Paul Fenwick and David Kenning owned Hydroponics Wholesale at Derby
Trading Estate, in Stores Road, Derby, where they sold items including
cannabis seeds, lamps, anti-detection foil and extraction fans to the
trade. Fenwick, 45, now of Leicestershire, also owned The Hydroponics
Centre, which operated out of the same unit and was selling the same
items to the public.
It is not illegal to sell the equipment, but Fenwick and employee Paul
Blackshaw, 32, were filmed in March last year giving undercover police
officers advice on how to grow the drug.
The trio were yesterday found guilty of conspiring to aid and abet the
production of cannabis.
Fenwick and Blackshaw were also found guilty of conspiring to counsel
the production of cannabis.
Kenning, 36, was found not guilty of that charge.
Fenwick was also found guilty of producing cannabis with intent to
supply. Police found 624g of the drug at his home in Carlton Road,
Derby, where he was then living.
After yesterday's verdict, Detective Constable Kevin McGonigle said this
sort of case was rare.
He said: "Cases like this are few and far between. Many have viewed this
as a test case. It is an offence to cultivate, possess, use and supply
cannabis. Equally those who assist people in this are guilty of an offence.
"The hydroponics centre clearly crossed the line."
Det Con McGonigle added: "Many of the items these men were selling had
legitimate uses, but they were giving advice on how to avoid detection
as well as on growing the drug."
All three men denied the charges, saying books were readily available on
how to grow cannabis and they had only answered questions put to them by
the officers.
During the trial, Fenwick told the jury the drugs he produced were for
his own personal use.
Judge David Price gave the three men bail but warned them they could
face prison terms.
He said: "I am granting bail to the three of you, but don't read into
that. I have in mind a custodial sentence."
Fenwick, Kenning, of Wymeswold, Loughborough, and Blackshaw, of Barley
Close, Little Eaton, will be sentenced on November 23.
http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12980
Author:
Derby Telegraph via UKCIA
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