Landlords warned of the dangers of cannabis factory booby-traps Police are warning landlords and people who rent out properties to be alert to the potential dangers of booby-trapping of windows and doors, after two recent incidents in Hampshire.
Over the last 12 months, 87 cannabis factories have been discovered across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. In recent weeks two properties have been found to be booby-trapped.
The most recent incident occurred two weeks ago, when officers executed a warrant at a house in southern Hampshire.
Upon entering the premises, they found that the mains electricity had been wired up to the windows and doors.
Fortunately, no-one was injured on this occasion, and the apparatus was dismantled, but police are urging those who let out properties to be extra cautious when visiting or conducting checks at rented premises.
“This is a very sinister development and we need to make sure that people are aware of the potential danger they can face,” said Detective Sergeant Andy Waite, Hampshire Constabulary Drugs Intelligence Manager.
“A vast majority of the cannabis factories we discover are sited within rented properties, which is why we are targeting this warning at landlords.
For more information see www.hampshire.police.uk or contact Peter Bottomley at pbforensics
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Friday 18 May 2007
Six jailed for huge cannabis production operation
Six men have been jailed for one of the biggest cannabis production operations the UK has ever seen. Allen Taylor, 38, was given a seven-year sentence at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, May 4, for masterminding the operation at Kings Hill Farm, Beech in Hampshire.
The court heard that the cannabis farm could have become the biggest in the country with its 4,000 plants netting in the region of £1.5 million a year. Several buildings on the farm had been divided up into rooms to grow, harvest and dry the cannabis, with one crop alone expected to produce a street value of £330,000.
The premises were raided during the early hours of April 28, 2005, and several men were arrested. Allen Taylor was arrested shortly after.
PC Kevin Darvill of the Serious Crime unit in Southampton said “It was “certainly the biggest cannabis farm we know of in Hampshire, and potentially one of the biggest in England.”
During the investigation officers also unearthed plans to buy a former MOD site near Exeter and turn it into a massive drugs factory. The proposal to convert underground bunkers would have made the Beech set-up look like “child’s play”.
In sentencing Allen Taylor to seven years for his part as “the prime mover” in the Beech enterprise, Judge Recorder Alastair Malcolm said that Taylor had provided the premises and the finance, and would have provided funds for the Exeter site as well.
Five other defendants also received prison sentences. Alexander Taylor, 29, from Christchurch, Dorset, was jailed for three years, Kevin Conway, 40, from Warwick and said to be in on the operation from the start, received five years, Paul Willis, 38, from Honiton in Devon was sentenced to 12 months and James Barrett, 21, also from Honiton, will spend 3.5 years in prison and Michael Dent, 38, was jailed for four years.
Peter Bottomley from pbforensics examined the factory at Beech in Hampshire and gave evidence at the trial at Southampton Crown Court in relation to the estimated yield of cannabis and the methods of cannabis production in operation at Kings Hill Farm.
For more information please call pbforensics on 01372 453549
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Monday 5 March 2007
MHRA warns about the illegal sale of Nitrous Oxide "hippie crack"
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have warned nightclubs that the sale of nitrous oxide for inhalation, or allowing it to be supplied, is an offence under Section 52 of the Medicines Act 1968.
The use of nitrous oxide, which is a constituent of the gas-and-air mixture used for pain relief in childbirth and is also the propellant used in aerosol whipped cream, has taken the club scene by storm and balloons containing a single hit of the gas sell for about £2 each in many venues.
There is also a growing use of the gas amongst middle-class party goers and Daniel Watts, a 23 year old company director from the West Midlands, was recently found dead at his home after inhaling the gas.
Many young people perceive the inhalation of Nitrous Oxide as "harmless" but the rush experienced by users is caused by starving the brain of oxygen. Long term dangers to health include bone marrow suppression, blood cell problems and these risks are increased if the gas is combined with alcohol or other narcotics.
For more information on illicit drugs and drug misuse please contact pbforensics on 01372 453549
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Monday 29 January 2007
Sussex Cannabis Factory - Man jailed
A man has been sent to jail for three and a half years at Lewes Crown Court for running a large hydroponic cannabis growing operation from two houses in East Sussex.
John Hoath (61) from Lewes was arrested at a house in Uckfield which was raided by officers from Sussex Police on 11 October 2005. Hoath was charged with two counts of producing cannabis with intent to supply, two counts of abstracting electricity by bypassing the meter and one of using criminal property.
Peter Bottomley of pbforensics gave evidence for the prosecution at Lewes Crown Court relating to the raid on the property at Uckfield in October 2005, the examination of the seized cannabis plants, hydroponic cultivation of cannabis and the potential yield of cannabis from the factory.
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Thursday 18 January 2007
Methylamphetamine reclassified as a Class A drug
Methylamphetamine has been reclassified as a Class A drug with effect from 18 January 2007 in order to try and prevent widespread abuse of the drug in the UK.
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2006 (SI 2006/3331) reclassifies the drug, which was previously Class B, by moving it from Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to Part 1 of that schedule.
Methylamphetamine (also known as "Crystal meth", "Meth" and "Ice") can lead to paranoia, depression, violence, kidney failure, internal bleeding and less inhibited sexual behaviour.
Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said: "We know from the experiences of other countries that it has the potential to ruin the lives of individuals and their families.
"Crystal meth would be an awful drug were it to take root in this country, it would have a devastating impact on individuals, it would have a devastating impact on communities.
"We know it hasn't happened yet, we want to keep it that way.
Methamphetamine users now face up to seven years in jail and an unlimited fine, while dealers in the drug could be jailed for life.
For more information about methamphetamine and other drugs of abuse please contact Peter Bottomley at pbforensics on 01372 453549
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Wednesday 20th December 2006
First Methamphetamine Laboratory in the UK - Defendant sentenced to 10 years
One of three men from the Isle of Wight convicted of planning to produce the Class B drug methylamphetamine (Crystal meth) on the Isle of Wight has been sentenced to 10 years in prison following a trial at Portsmouth Crown Court.
41-year-old Timothy Morgan of High Street, Wootton Bridge, was found guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court on Wednesday 20 December 2006 of conspiracy to produce methamphetamine.
The prosecution described Morgan as, “A dangerous dreamer, who would do anything to get money.”
The case follows a major investigation by Hampshire Police on the Isle of Wight involving a number of raids where drugs, chemicals and laboratory equipment were seized.
On handing him the sentence, Judge Hetherington said, “Methamphetamine is an extremely dangerous drug and its use is highly addictive and ravages people’s lives. You knew all this but spent hours and hours of meticulous research. You conceived this plan to make serious money and so set about these objectives.
"You were dedicated and persistent during the period of the conspiracy and, when finally charged and arrested, and against overwhelming evidence, you mounted a ludicrous defence telling lie after lie at times bordering on a farce…What mitigation you do have is precious little…I want to send a clear warning to others who may seek to follow your course."
David Walker from Spring Hill, Ventnor was also found guilty, while 43-year-old Stefan Thomas of Gunville Road, Newport admitted his involvement before the trial.
Peter Bottomley of pbforensics gave evidence for the prosecution at Portsmouth Crown Court relating to the examination of numerous chemicals and other items recovered from the scene and on the production of methamphetamine.
For more information on this case see www.solent.tv
23 April 2005
Sussex Drugs Chemist sentenced to 20 years imprisonment
An American chemist found guilty of making three Class A drugs has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with a recommendation that he be deported on his release after a ten week trial at Lewes Crown Court. Casey Hardison (33) received one of the longest sentences ever passed for drugs offences in Sussex.
The drugs had a potential street level value of £5 million and the laboratory, which was discovered by officers from Sussex Police in a bungalow in a quiet road in Ovingdean near Brighton, was one of the most complex ever found in the UK in the last 25 years.
Hardison was found guilty of making three Class A drugs, namely 2CB, DMT and LSD, possessing 145,000 doses of LSD and 5-MeO-DMT with intent to supply, as well as smuggling ecstasy tablets worth £4000 from the UK to the USA.
Judge Anthony Niblett described Hardison as a "dangerous individual" and went on to say "You realised the potential profit was huge, running possibly into millions of pounds. I am quite satisfied that was your goal". He also said Hardison was a highly intelligent, articulate, and talented man who tragically used his abilities for illegal purposes.
Judge Niblett also said "You are a US citizen who came to this country to exploit the market for Class A drugs. This was production on an industrial scale. You deliberately flouted the laws of this country. You have no regret for what you did and you have expressed every intention of pursuing your misguided beliefs in the future."
Peter Bottomley of pbforensics gave evidence for the prosecution at Lewes Crown Court relating to the production of Class A drugs at the Ovingdean laboratory by Mr Hardison.
Footnote: Mr Hardison later appealed against his sentence claiming he was a victim of "chemical apartheid" and that the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was incompatible with his human rights. His appeal was rejected and the Appeal Court ruled that his conviction was "safe" and that he deserved every day of his sentence.
Mr Justice Keith said "This was not an amateurish operation in a garden shed. It was a sophisticated and calculated attempt to introduce synthetic drugs into the UK market, which could have reaped great financial rewards."
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For more news about the work of pbforensics please contact Peter Bottomley at
pbforensics@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: 01372 453549 or 01372 236351
Mobile: 07732 276208
Fax: 08445 862892
