Sheerness man Sean Williams jailed for growing cannabis thanks to PCSO's keen nose for crime
by Julia Roberts
When Sean Williams alerted police to youths kicking his
neighbour's door, he had not banked on their keen nose for
crime.
For the police community support officers who went to
the Sheerness block of flats sniffed out another crime - a
drugs factory in Williams's flat.
Maidstone Crown Court heard a total of 47 cannabis plants with a
potential crop yield of £18,500 were growing in a "tented
structure" within the 45-year-old's living room.
He told police he was out of work and planned to sell the drugs.
However, the court heard he was too embarrassed to tell them
they were actually intended for his mother to help her ease her
osteoarthritis.
Williams, of St George's Avenue, admitted producing cannabis and
was jailed for two years.
Judge Charles Byers said he accepted that while Williams played
a significant role, no one else was involved.
The court was told Williams had himself started smoking
cannabis at the age of 14 and now suffers mental health
problems.
Referring to his barrister's claims that his mother and
girlfriend, who also suffers from ill health, were to be given the
cannabis, the judge added: "I have no evidence before me of your
mother's or partner's conditions, but I am prepared to accept there
may have been some medical use for this drug.
"However, that does not absolve you of this responsibility. You
of all people must know that it is a dangerous drug."
Sean Williams was jailed
at Maidstone Crown Court
Police were called to Rule Court on June 16 after Williams
reported youths continuously kicking his neighbour's door.
"When the police community support officers attended they
noticed a fairly strong smell of cannabis," explained prosecutor
Ian Foinette.
Having traced it to Williams's flat, they found the plants. "In
one of the rooms was a tented structure covered with black plastic
and the glow of the lamps inside it could be seen from the
outside," he added.
Williams was said to be fully co-operative with police from the
outset. He said he had invested £1,600 to buy the cannabis seeds
and necessary equipment.
Penelope Blake, defending, told the court smoking cannbis helped
to ease his mother's symptoms.
"He wasn't charging his family and told the police that he was
growing the plants on a commercial basis out of embarrassment," she
explained. "It wasn't purely, or at all, for financial gain."
05/12/12
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