A listed building which was once home to a drug farm has been put up for sale. The mansion which dates back to 1904, has been put on the market for £595,000.
The property boasts at least six bedrooms, four reception rooms, basement rooms, attic rooms and two studio apartments. The Grade II listed building was at the centre of a court case last year when its owner, Matt Matharu, was convicted of having a cannabis farm worth £416,000 there.
Police discovered the drugs in 2018 when they were investigating a report of burglary at the Hartlepool home. The imposing building, called Greystone, has been put on the market with estate agents, Robinsons.
Although the firm would not divulge who is selling the property, the advertisement describes it as ‘sold at seen’, report Teesside Live. Mr Matharu, a former care home boss was described as having a “sophisticated” cannabis farm at the property worth over £400,000, when the case came before Teesside Crown Court last July for sentencing.
It was claimed the drugs were in order to pay a £6,000 debt to a loan shark. The court heard that when the dad-of-three got himself into some financial difficulty after being declared bankrupt he was “intimidated” into growing the cannabis at the Victorian mansion.
The large-scale farm was finally discovered on January 23, 2018 after police responded to a burglary that was taking place at the address. Mr Matharu told police he was “solely responsible” for the cannabis farm, which was later valued at being worth £416,000.
The former care home boss had previously been convicted for health and safety issues in 2015 and was sentenced to 18 months in prison after a 90-year-old woman fell and died after climbing out of an insecure upstairs window at one of his homes. For having the drugs farm, Mr Matharu was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
Now, Greystones, which is close to Ward Jackson Park, is up for sale. It is described as being built at a scale ‘rarely seen today’. As well as the main house, there is a connecting guest annex and a four-vehicle garage.
In their advertisement Robinsons said: “Greystones is undoubtedly a local icon reflecting a time when the town enjoyed untold prosperity. An internal viewing is essential in order to appreciate the size of the accommodation, location and potential on offer.”
However, the estate agent also said: “The property is to be sold as seen. Any prospective purchaser must assume full responsibility for the condition of the property and all contents there in.”
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