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A Leicester man has been sentenced at Leicester Crown Court today (Monday April 28, 2008) after pleading guilty to inciting people to grow cannabis plants.
Andrew Woolhouse, 53, of Armadale Drive, Leicester, was arrested on March 27, 2007, after police launched an undercover operation into his Abbey Lane business Easy Grow.
The business advertised its service on the internet as a supplier of "hydroponic equipment and lighting for growing marijuana in your own home. With over 14 years growing experience we are the number one supplier of marijuana seeds and feeds in the UK."
The business and its website have since been closed down.
Investigations revealed that Woolhouse had been selling hydroponics equipment, cannabis seeds and other equipment linked with the production of cannabis from his premises on Abbey Lane since 2004.
A search of his home address also revealed that he was growing cannabis in his loft using hydroponics equipment and officers seized 12 plants from the premises.
At a hearing earlier this year (Friday March 14, 2008) at Leicester Crown Court, Woolhouse pleaded guilty to charges of incitement to produce cannabis between September 2004 and March 2007 and the cultivation of cannabis plants. Following today's hearing, he was sentenced to a year in prison suspended for two years.
Detective Inspector Dave Richardson, who led the investigation, said: "This is the first time Leicestershire Constabulary has put someone before the courts for inciting the production of cannabis in these circumstances.
"Using this legislation has allowed us to take drugs enforcement even further by tackling another link in the supply chain - the equipment supplier who knowingly encourages the production of illegal drugs.
"It was clear from Woolhouse's advert that he was encouraging people to grow cannabis and that he profited from the sale of equipment and seeds. Opportunities to obtain a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act in respect of Woolhouse's suspected illegal profits will now be considered.
Andrew Woolhouse, 53, of Armadale Drive, Leicester, was arrested on March 27, 2007, after police launched an undercover operation into his Abbey Lane business Easy Grow.
The business advertised its service on the internet as a supplier of "hydroponic equipment and lighting for growing marijuana in your own home. With over 14 years growing experience we are the number one supplier of marijuana seeds and feeds in the UK."
The business and its website have since been closed down.
Investigations revealed that Woolhouse had been selling hydroponics equipment, cannabis seeds and other equipment linked with the production of cannabis from his premises on Abbey Lane since 2004.
A search of his home address also revealed that he was growing cannabis in his loft using hydroponics equipment and officers seized 12 plants from the premises.
At a hearing earlier this year (Friday March 14, 2008) at Leicester Crown Court, Woolhouse pleaded guilty to charges of incitement to produce cannabis between September 2004 and March 2007 and the cultivation of cannabis plants. Following today's hearing, he was sentenced to a year in prison suspended for two years.
Detective Inspector Dave Richardson, who led the investigation, said: "This is the first time Leicestershire Constabulary has put someone before the courts for inciting the production of cannabis in these circumstances.
"Using this legislation has allowed us to take drugs enforcement even further by tackling another link in the supply chain - the equipment supplier who knowingly encourages the production of illegal drugs.
"It was clear from Woolhouse's advert that he was encouraging people to grow cannabis and that he profited from the sale of equipment and seeds. Opportunities to obtain a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act in respect of Woolhouse's suspected illegal profits will now be considered.
