A married couple who alerted the police to their own cannabis farm have been ordered to pay back more than £100,000.
Jason Lodge, 51, and his wife Carmen, 59, had a "large and professional" drugs farm in the garage of their home in Cottage Lane, Ormskirk. But on May 15, 2018, Mrs Lodge called the police to report her husband was missing, saying she was concerned for his mental state.
When officers arrived at the property, shortly before 6pm, a panicked Mrs Lodge asked them to call back in an hour.
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However the police insisted on checking the property and discovered 30 plants, along with growing equipment, in the garage, Lancs Live reports.
Mrs Lodge then confessed there was a larger grow in the cellar, and led the officers to a further 150 plants. The electricity had been bypassed and Mr Lodge's fingerprints were found on the equipment.
Three-and-a-half years later, Jason Lodge attempted to tell Judge Richard Gioserano he was forced to look after the plants, however the judge dismissed his claims as "nonsense". He said: "The two of you couldn't even come up with the same nonsense because you couldn't get your stories straight."
In October 2021, Jason Lodge was handed a two year prison sentence, suspended for two years and his wife was handed a 12 month community order. Police experts concluded the plants had an estimated yield valued at between £84,000 and £125, 000.
The pair returned to Preston Crown Court on Friday March 31, 2023, for a Proceeds of Crime hearing. Mr Lodge was ordered to pay back £53,807.34 and Mrs Lodge must repay £52,743.62.
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