Accrington cannabis farm dad is spared jail
4:00pm Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News
A FATHER-OF-FIVE who had a potential £8,450 cannabis farm in the front bedroom of his Accrington home has been spared jail.
Burnley Crown Court heard how jobless ex-doorman Darren Solway, 34, set up the sophisticated growing system in a tent to provide his own drugs, as he claimed he had been spending £200 a week on buying cannabis.
Solway, who shared his home with one of his children, claimed he kept the room locked and shielded the child from his criminality. But he was still slammed by a judge, who told him he had been ‘seriously and utterly irresponsible’ in his role as a parent over the offence.
Solway, of Ribblesdale Avenue, had admitted producing cannabis. He was sentenced to an 18-month community order, with 18 months’ supervision, and 120 hours unpaid work.
Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said the potential street value of the cannabis was £8,450.
Police, who executed a search warrant at Solway’s home on April 27, found nine large cannabis plants and three small plants, along with equipment used in cannabis production.
Bob Sastry, for Solway, said the defendant had been struggling with depression as he was out of work, and had replaced alcohol dependency with a drugs habit.
