63-year-old cannabis farmer avoids prison
A DRUG DEALER who was growing cannabis with a potential street value of over £13,000 in his home has escaped a jail term.
John Stewart Trewartha, 63, was operating a cannabis farm from his home in White Lee Gardens, Mytholmroyd.
When police raided the property on August 12, 2011 they found 37 cannabis plants and £5,000 in cash.
His Honour Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said: “Growing cannabis will not do. Everybody thinks you’re a bit of an amateur here, with growing and selling cannabis.
“You are a very accomplished musician and I think you overlooked the seriousness of this.
“If I see you in here again, you will receive a custodial sentence.”
Trewartha admitted growing cannabis for two years and told police he supplied it to a small group of friends to fund his own drug habit. He said he made £2,000 a month from dealing.
When asked about the £5,000, Trewartha told police he was a self-employed taxi driver and had been keeping some money back from the Inland Revenue for the last five years.
Officers also found a quantity of cannabis with a potential street value of £1,200 during the raid, as well as a dehumidifier and drugs paraphernalia.
He was ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work in the community and Judge Durham Hall told him he would not be so lucky next time.