Case Details
Charges
The defendant is charged with the production of a controlled drug of Class B (Cannabis).
This is a serious indictment given the commercial scale of the operation, which spanned multiple floors of a property.
Situation
Police officers attended a vacant property after detecting a strong smell of cannabis and observing dangerous wiring—a common indicator of abstraction of electricity for drug cultivation.
Upon entry, officers discovered a sophisticated "Cannabis Farm." The yield was significant, totaling 554 plants distributed throughout the building:
Cellar: 105 plants
First Floor: 134 plants
Second Floor: 155 plants
Nursery/Seedlings: 110 nursery plants and 50 seedlings.
Defence Strategy
Current Strategy: Modern Slavery Defence
Despite the overwhelming physical evidence of the farm, the defendant has pleaded Not Guilty. Our defence strategy centers on the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
We are submitting that the defendant is a victim of modern slavery, likely trafficked or coerced into working as a "gardener" under duress. This defence (Section 45) argues that the defendant was compelled to commit the offence and had no realistic alternative. We are instructing specialist counsel from Equity Street Chambers and Kenworthy Chambers to support this complex legal argument.
Outcome
Status: Awaiting Trial
The case is currently proceeding to trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
Note: As this case involves active arguments regarding human trafficking and exploitation, further details remain confidential.
