Chatham cannabis grower Abiola Adenmosun spared jail
by Keith Hunt
A cannabis addict who was warned custody was "almost inevitable"
after admitting growing the drug has walked free because a judge
decided there was a more constructive way of dealing with him than
sending him to jail for four months.
Jobless Abiola Adenmosun was given a suspended sentence,
supervision and 175 hours' unpaid work to get him "back into the
work ethic".
The 22-year-old father grew 20 cannabis plants at the home of
his girlfriend's parents in The Tideway, Rochester.
Police went to the house on April 7 last year and found
Adenmosun there with his brother and girlfriend. The plants, with a
street value of up to £9,600, were in a "growing area" and near to
maturity.
Iestyn Morgan, prosecuting, said it was "a relatively
professional set-up". Officers also seized bags containing 16
grammes of strong skunk cannabis, lists and a receipt for
hydroponics equipment.
Adenmosun, now of Hards Town, Chatham, even had a picture of
mature cannabis plants on his mobile phone.
He admitted cultivating cannabis, but his claim that the drug
was for personal use only was not accepted by the prosecution.
Matthew Davis, defending, said Adenmosun had been addicted to
cannabis since the age of 17. He claimed he was growing the drug
with his girlfriend's father.
Adenmosun left school without qualifications and moved to Kent
from London when he met the mother of his five-month-old child.
Drugs had blighted his life and led to offending.
Told that he was looking for work as a courier driver, Judge
Charles Byers (pictured right) said: "I am not particularly
impressed with that. It would be like putting an alcoholic on a
motorcycle."
Judge Michael Carroll warned Adenmosun he was facing custody
when he entered his plea in December.
But Judge Byers took a different view and imposed eight months'
imprisonment - suspended for two years. Adenmosun was told he would
have to engage with drug services during 18 months'
supervision.
"Seeing as this is the first time he has been involved in drugs,
whatever my suspicions are, I will pass sentence on the basis of
the lowest common denominator," said the judge.
"It might be more constructive than sending him inside for four
months."
He told Adenmosun: "I accept you may be a habitual cannabis
user, but that is no excuse. You must understand that people who
produce cannabis are producing a dangerous drug.
"It causes all sorts of health problems, including
schizophrenia. The sooner you rid yourself of that habit, the
better.
"You have not sought to blame anybody else and that weighs
heavily with me. You are doing something to take responsibility
with your life.
"I am just able to pass a suspended sentence because of your
guilty plea. If you fail to do any of the activities, you will
serve the eight months."
15/02/13
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