A FORMER charity worker has been jailed for growing more than £9,000 worth of cannabis in his bedroom.
Simon Head, 46, was
sentenced to two years in prison after police discovered two tents housing 36 plants in two bedrooms of his George Street house in Driffield.
In another room, there was £485 worth of harvested
cannabis in tubs, with three £20 deals ready to be sold.
Head, who volunteered at Age UK for three years, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and possession of cannabis with intent to
supply.
Prosecutor Jhana Jobes said the amount of cannabis grown was worth £9,240 but the yearly yield could have been as much as £13,880.
She said: "His involvement was a significant role."
Head started volunteering at Age UK after being ordered to do so as part of a community order made by magistrates. He enjoyed it so much, he continued helping for three years and only stopped due to problems with insurance.
He told police he was growing the cannabis for personal use and to pay for a new house with his pregnant girlfriend Theresa Griggs.
Defending Head, now of Foston Lane, in North Frodingham, Nigel Clive said he was a "long-term smoker" who was forced to quit his job as a painter and decorator after hurting his foot in a fall.
He has previous convictions for drug offences, including possession of ecstasy and amphetamines.
Mr Clive said: "What does speak for his character is the fact he was sentenced by magistrates to complete unpaid work at Age UK and once that was completed he carried on working there for three years.
"He would still be there now if there weren't problems with the insurance.
"This is a man with too much time on his hands and not enough to fill it.
"He finds his cannabis use expensive and so, like many others, he turned towards growing it."
Ms Griggs, 41, also of Foston Lane, was cleared of a charge of the production of cannabis when the Crown offered no evidence. She kissed Head as she left the dock and took her place in the public gallery.
Sentencing Head to two years in prison, Recorder Rachim Singh said: "It was not the most sophisticated of set ups and while there were 36 plants in total, it is not clear they would have all made it to fruition.
"You have previous convictions, which are clearly indicative of someone who is a drug user and I expect at first blush this started off for your own need, then clearly morp-
hed into something else.
"This offending is so serious, only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate."
