A pensioner who ran a cannabis factory with his son and was found with indecent images of children has refused to return from the Caribbean to escape prison. He was part of a conspiracy in which 156 plants were being grown in an attic, with a potential value of up to more than £100,000.
William Dolbear Sr, 73, was arrested along with his son William Samuel Dolbear Jr, 30, on November 6, 2019, after a house in Bridgend was raided by police and a cannabis factory discovered in the attic. The smell of cannabis upon entering the house was "overwhelming" and the set up was described as a "highly professional commercial operation".
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard there were five separate growing areas, illuminated by six high-powered 600 watt lamps, three carbon filters, dehumidifiers and extraction fans. The potential yield of the plants were between 160 and 498 ounces, with a value between £28,220 and £109,560. There were also 111 seedling plants, with a value up to £73,260.
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The father and son were arrested in a car at junction 34 of the M4 for Llantrisant, and both had mobile phones and cash seized. Prosecutor Nik Strobl said evidence was discovered to show both were "working together" and expected a "substantial financial advantage" as a result of the operation.
When Dolbear Sr's phone was examined, a number of indecent images of children were discovered. A total of 153 category A images, 51 category B images, and 140 category C images were found, as well as 470 prohibited and 34 extreme images.
Following Dolbear Sr's arrest, the defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce and supply cannabis and possession of indecent images. But he returned to his home in Sint Eustatius, in the Dutch Caribbean, in 2019, and has since refused to come back to the UK to face justice. He remains at large.
Mr Strobl told the court the cannabis factory came to light after packages with a total of 5.799kg of cannabis addressed to Thomas Agnew, 32, were intercepted by Border Force officers at various locations. Agnew was living with both Dolbears at the time of the offence.
The court heard the packages had been sent from the USA and had a potential value of between £28,075 and £57,990. There was also a number of cannabis products including reefer cigarettes and Bubba Kush CBD.
The first interception came at Coventry International Hub on August 19, 2018, followed by interceptions at the Royal Mail National Logistics Centre on January 2, 2019, Dover on January 17, and another package on February 1, 2019.
This led to police raiding a shop owned by Agnew and Dolbear Snr called Blue Back Farms in Maesteg on November 6, 2019. During a search of the shop, products containing THC and CBD were discovered, including vapes, tea bags and edibles.
Agnew, of Wood Green, Cefn Glas, was arrested and various electronic devices were seized. Price lists from sellers in the USA were discovered and research had been carried out into law surrounding cannabis, which showed the defendant's awareness that what he was doing was illegal. He later pleaded guilty to importation and supply of cannabis, and the court heard he had previous convictions for supplying controlled class B drugs and offering to supply cocaine.
In mitigation for Dolbear Sr, Omar Soliman said his client was of previous good character and the operation was already in existence before he became involved. He said the defendant permanently lives in the Caribbean and had been advised not to travel back to the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic due to concerns for his health.
Lee Furlong, for Agnew, said his client's offending would have a big impact on his own family, as well as those he employs in his window cleaning and gardening business. He said the defendant hopes to get married and is expecting his third child, as well as supporting his mother who has a number of health issues.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins sentenced Agnew to a total of four years imprisonment and Dolbear Sr to a total of five years and 10 months imprisonment. The sentencing of Dolbear Jr was adjourned until July 18 for a pre-sentence report. The judge asked for the Sint Eustatius authorities to be notified of Dolbear Sr's conviction and sentence, and if he is not deported, the defendant should be arrested upon his return to the UK.
