Lock-up garage was secret cocaine factory

POLICE officers on the trail of Oldham drug dealers found a cocaine factory in a lock-up garage, a court was told.

Carl Badby (34) had handed over the keys to the secret “factory” on Rosary Close, after raids at his mother’s home, and his girlfriend’s address on August 23, last year.

Police seized a small amount of cannabis from a kitchen cupboard at his mother’s address in Keswick Avenue, Oldham, along with business cards bearing his name and prices for wraps.

Manchester Crown Court was told a debtors’ list was also found, and a book containing notes about money owed. When Badby’s car was searched, officers seized a knuckle duster.

Alison Heyworth, prosecuting, said police had learned about the lock-up and Badby had voluntarily handed over the keys. Inside was a VW Golf and a 10-ton hydraulic press.

The court heard Badby’s fingerprints were found on the machine and traces of cocaine were recovered from the press.

Badby accepted the cannabis had been his and admitted owning the lock-up, but denied knowledge of the book or debtors’ list.

Jailing him for six years, Judge Leslie Hull said: “Police found indications that you were involved in a significant way in the production of cocaine.

“Though no sizeable amounts of drugs were found, this press had the capacity for the production of large amounts of drugs, and you must have expected significant gains.”

Badby, who lived at South Croft, Fitton Hill, had pleaded guilty to charges of involvement in the production of drugs, possession of an offensive weapon, and possession of cannabis.

The court was told he had more than 30 previous convictions including possession of a revolver, for which he was jailed for five years in 2006.

He was sentenced to six years for involvement in producing drugs, 18 months for possession of an offensive weapon, and seven days for possession of cannabis.