Client Guilty of Producing Cannabis Avoids Prison

Case study summary

Our client had large debts after turning to drugs following her grandmother's death. She allowed her friend to set up a cannabis farm in her attic as a way of settling this. With thorough preparation and expert advocacy at court, we ensured that she avoided prison.

Case study

Our client was arrested for allegations of producing cannabis and abstracting electricity. We attended the police station to represent her as part of the duty solicitor scheme. Following the interview, our client was charged. She asked that we continue to represent her throughout her court proceedings as she was pleased with our representation at the police station.

The prosecution case was that a cannabis farm made up of over 20 plants had been located in our client's attic. Our client admitted the allegation and confirmed that she intended to plead guilty to all charges. She explained that she had moved into her grandmother's house following her grandmother's death but she had been unable to keep on top of the rent payments.

She was struggling to come to terms with the death of her grandmother which added to pre-existing mental and physical health conditions. She turned to drugs to cope and ended up owing a lot of money to drug dealers. One of our client's friends approached her and said that if she allowed her attic to be used as a cannabis farm, it would help to pay off the debt. She agreed as she saw no other option at the time.

Due to the scale of the drugs operation, an immediate prison sentence was a real possibility. We prepared our client's case thoroughly in order to avoid this outcome. Our client was a person who had never been in trouble with the police, and prison would only have made her mental and physical health conditions worse. She had stopped taking drugs since her arrest and was making steps to move back in with her parents. We obtained character references to show the court that this offending was completely out of character for her and ensured that she was fully supported throughout the process. We also provided guidance ahead of her interview with the probation services, and received a very helpful report from them recommending that she serve her punishment within the community.

One of our directors and experienced advocate, Liam Kotrie, represented our client in the Crown Court where she received a 4-month suspended prison sentence. She was extremely relieved.