We successfully secured acquittals at Lincoln Crown Court for two Clients who were alleged to have produced Cannabis on a commercial scale. The cannabis factory, which was located inside a former 17th Century Coaching Inn, had all of the hallmarks of professional crime. Police executed a search warrant under s.23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and found 5 people leaving the premises via a rear door. Two of those arrested subsequently instructed us to conduct their defence.
The Police had valued the cannabis crop as having a yield n excess of £100,000.00. A complicated hydroponic system had been installed, together with multiple lighting rigs and timers. The electricity had been by-passed and was being illegally abstracted from a source near the main road. Large amounts of cannabis were found drying in one of the rooms at the former Coaching Inn together with in excess of 150 cannabis plants.
The 5 arrested suspects were prosecuted under s.4 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in relation to producing the cannabis at the farm, near Colsterworth in Lincolnshire.
We dealt with the seizure of the Defendants’ assets in relation to contemplated proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and were able to secure the return of the Defendants’ Property well in advance of trial. This included expensive electrical goods and a Porsche 911 Turbo motor car.
At trial the Defence persuaded the trial Judge to exclude important prosecution evidence in relation to a search which had been secured in circumstances which gave serious cause for concern. Successful submissions were made at the end of the Prosecution Case that there was “no case to answer” and the Judge agreed, directing the jury to find both Defendants not guilty.
Needless to say, both Clients were elated that the case was thrown out by the Judge and their names had finally been cleared.