A former restaurant owner who grew cannabis in his sister's basement after he 'fell on hard times' walked free from court today.
Ronald Garner, who used to run Southport restaurant Ronnie's, claims he started to use the drug himself to alleviate pain after he was randomly attacked.
The 53-year-old also claimed he grew a £53,000 crop in his sister Julie Garner's home to help drag himself out of debt - but police raided her Seaforth home, said Chris Taylor, prosecuting.
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Officers were let in by Julie Garner's daughter on the morning of August 5, 2020, and while they were in the basement her mum appeared from upstairs and was arrested.
Officers found 42 mature cannabis plants in trays of water when the cannabis dismantling team took apart the crop.
Mr Taylor said the sophisticated equipment included light bulbs with reflective backing suspended from the ceiling, electrical transformers, ducting, circulation fans, heaters and fertiliser. The electricity meter had also been bridged.
He said: “[Julie Garner's] brother Ronald arrived and insisted it was his production due to debts and he was arrested.”
When Ronald Garner was interviewed, he confirmed that he was responsible for the cannabis grow and his sister admitted to allowing her house to be used.
When examined, the plants were revealed to have a potential yield of 3,528 grams, with a street value of up to £52,920.
Ronald Garner, of Bold Street, Southport, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis. Julie Garner, 45, of Gladstone Road, Seaforth, pleaded guilty to permitting her premises to be used for growing cannabis.
The court was told Julie Garner has no previous convictions but her brother has a previous one for producing cannabis nine years ago.
He was convicted after he pleaded guilty, having let the basement of his five-bedroom house in Regent Road – one of Southport’s most sought-after addresses – be turned into a substantial cannabis farm.
His partner and two young daughters unwittingly lived upstairs at the time.
Liverpool Crown Court was told 249 plants were being grown in three rooms when police raided the cellar on November 26, 2010.
Kate Morley, defending today, said there were two reasons why Ronald Garner had re-offended after eight years of staying out of trouble.
She said: “Mr Garner worked extremely hard over the years to minimise his risk of committing offences. He is a trained chef and he progressed to owning his own restaurant.
"Unfortunately the restaurant fell on hard times. He borrowed money from family and friends to cover wages and to try and stay afloat in the short term but it was to no avail. The restaurant failed and he was left with significant debts.
“To compound the misery, he was randomly and viciously attacked. This had a traumatic and devastating impact on his mental health.
“Although he was medicated by traditional methods, he turned to cannabis to alleviate the pain and reduce his anxiety but he got into a cannabis debt.
“Not only did he have the physical and mental scars from the attack, he has a number of health issues including heart disease and kidney problems.
“Seeing no way out of the debt, he under pressure succumbed to producing cannabis. It was only ever intended to be a short term fix."
Miss Morley added that he was very sorry and thoroughly embarrassed at having committed the offence. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Paul Becker, defending Julie Garner, said she had pleaded guilty and had never been in trouble before. She has children to look after and is unlikely to re-offend.
Judge Anil Murray sentenced Ronald Garner to 16 months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 175 hours unpaid work and 20 days rehabilitation activities.
He imposed a community order on Julie Garner with a curfew for 28 days between 9 - 7 am.
This is the second time Garner has evaded jail time for being involved in a cannabis farm.
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