Drugs farm was mum’s debt solver

A mother-of-three allowed her home to be used as a secret cannabis farm after she became riddled with debt.

Kelly Harrison (27), of Newbury Walk, Oldham, had amassed a significant debt with a loan shark and couldn’t afford the repayments.

In return, she let her home be used to grow 54 plants of cannabis in her bedroom which could have had a street value of up to £20,000.

Her long-term partner and father of two of her children, Michael Hall (25) was an “active gardener” in the operation by helping tend to the plants and cultivating them.

A local garden shop sounded out the pair after becoming suspicious of them buying large amounts of plant food and light bulbs.

The police gained a warrant for the premises in April, last year, and found the huge haul.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Harrison was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months when she pleaded guilty to permitting her premises to be used for the production of cannabis.

She will also have to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

Michael Hall, of Derby Street, Chadderton, was jailed for six months after admitting production of cannabis. The court heard he was in breach of a suspended sentence for an offence involving a bank card at a cash dispenser.

The two defendants burst into tears as Judge Jonathan Foster QC told them: “Drugs which are home- grown are stronger and are much more dangerous than much of the cannabis sold on the street.”

Jonathan Gregg, defending Harrison, said: “She lives in a hostel with her two children aged five and four. Her eldest child lives with her mother.

“She is taking night classes in the hostel and she has worked in the past and there is potential for the future.

“It was her debt that had landed her into trouble and it was her name on the tenancy. The cannabis was only supposed to be for a short time and that was always meant to be the plan.”

Paul Parry, defending Hall, said: “He decided that he would co-operate with the work and took responsibility.

“He felt an obligation to help with the debt as the money was spent on the children.”