Would-be Doncaster cannabis farmer began growing drugs after losing his job

Eugeniusz Lugowski's Doncaster home was searched on June 16 last year while officers were looking for someone else, prosecutor Catherine White said.

Police discovered 12 immature cannabis plants in a tent with lights in an outbuilding, and a small amount of cocaine in a bedroom.

They also found more cannabis is carrier bags in a wash house.

Experts estimated the plants when fully grown would have a potential yield of between £2,160 and £10,080, depending on how the cannabis was sold.

Lugowski told police he paid £500 for the equipment and seeds two weeks earlier, after he and his wife lost their jobs because of the lockdown.

He admitted trying to grow the plants to make some money, but didn’t know how as it was his first time.

He said he had watched online tutorials to learn how to set up the drug farm.

The defendant, who has no previous convictions, has since found a new job and was on antidepressants at the time of the offence, the court heard on Wednesday.

Lugowski, 38, of Stainforth Road, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to producing the Class B drug and possession of the Class A drug, on December 15.

Recorder Felicity Davies told Lugowski, who was unrepresented: “It seems to me your mitigation is very clear.”

She imposed a 12 month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work, and ordered him to pay a statutory court surcharge.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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