Over £12k worth of cannabis discovered in Doncaster home

Warren Barney's Doncaster home was raided by police on February 12, and the plants, which have a maximum value of £12,600 if harvested, were found in a bedroom.

Prosecutor Kay Varlow said he told police that seven men threatened him and brought the plants into his home, but he accepted assisting in farming them.

The court heard he has five previous convictions, dating back to 1991, including production of cannabis in 2012, for which he received a suspended sentence.

He was jailed for nine months for a similar offence in February 28, a fortnight after he was arrested.

Vanessa Saxton, mitigating, said that case had been “rumbling through the courts for some time,” as it was adjourned because of Barney’s poor health.

Barney moved away from the South Yorkshire area after his release from prison, the court heard.

"He decided not to return to the Doncaster area where there are negative influences on him,” Ms Saxton added.

“While he was in prison his father died, and he is now living with his eldery mother in East Sussex.

“He is no longer imbibing cannabis and has no intention of growing any more.”

Barney, 55, of Sutton Avenue, Peacehaven, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis, at Sheffield Magistrates Court, on September 3.

On Thursday, Judge Peter Kelson QC sentenced him to six months, suspended for two years.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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