A woman who was 'cuckooed' by drug dealers into growing a cannabis farm in her house has avoided jail. Sarah Parr, 34, fled her home following issues of domestic violence from her ex-partner, and was ‘pressured’ into allowing the drugs to be grown in her flat in Moston.
After police executed a search warrant at her home on Herschel Street, they found 48 cannabis plants, along with various drug paraphernalia. They also recovered wraps of cocaine and heroin, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Two men were seen trying to flee the house, one of which was later identified as Aden Hilton, 33. The other man had no further action taken against him. Following a search of Hilton's phone, messages showing drug dealing were recovered.
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Parr, of Preston, pleaded guilty to producing controlled drug class B on a basis that the property was hers and she was aware there was a cannabis farm, but played no active role. She also said both her and Hilton were under pressure at the time.
Hilton admitted producing controlled drugs, being concerned in the supply of drugs and two offences of permitting a premises to be used to supply class A drugs, namely cocaine and heroin, on a basis that he played no active role.
Prosecutor Niamh McGinty said that on September 18 2018, at around 6.30am, officers attended Herschel Street and executed a search warrant. Hilton and another man tried to flee but Hilton was arrested.
“The officers found 48 cannabis plants - 20 in one room, 28 in another, as well as various drug paraphernalia,” Ms McGinty said. “They also found 22.4g of cocaine 4.83g of heroin (diamorphine).
“In the living room officers found a number of snap bags, mobile phones, drugs lists and debtors lists, as well as lists including ‘W’ and ‘B’. One of the phones belonging to Hilton was interrogated, and contained a number of substantial messages that indicated that the phone was for the purpose of the supply of drugs.”
Hilton was said to have a number of convictions, with most recent offence being back in 2010. And Parr also had previous convictions, but the most recent was in 2014.
In a probation report, it was said that Parr was a victim of domestic violence at the time, and had been given sheltered accommodation for her own safety. She said she had been focusing on her own safety at the time and dealing with her own issues.
“For some period of time they were both under pressure from somebody, to allow this drug farm to be set up in the property she had a tenancy on, “ the report read.
“Around that time she was evading the perpetrator from the domestic violence and was residing at her mother’s house. She didn’t consent to this and felt under pressure.”
Mitigating for Hilton, Iain Johnstone said both Parr and Hilton were ‘vulnerable individuals’ and there was a ‘high element of cuckooing’ by those above them, and the premises were taken over.
“It’s possible that his personal vulnerabilities were taken advantage of, and he lacked the ability to challenge other individuals about the drug supply in the property,” Mr Johnstone said. “He buried his head in the sand.”
For Parr, Julian Goode said the offences dated back four years ago and there had been no further offences since then.
Sentencing, Judge Rachel Smith said: “I accept you are both described as vulnerable at the time to exploitation and unable to withstand pressure. The offences go back a little over four years, neither of you have become involved in crime since then.”
Parr, of Harewood Road, was handed a 18 month community order, including 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirements. Hilton, of Olivers Court, of Oldham, was handed six months imprisonment which was suspended for 18 months and 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirements.
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