Sponsored by
Meter fiddle at cannabis farm
WOMAN stole electricity to power a cannabis farm in her home.
A South Tyneside magistrates were told this week that police searched Nikki Leigh Ashcroft's home on Friday, July 16 and found the token-operated electricity meter had been bypassed with a wire.
John McGlone, prosecuting, said the officers then discovered 27 cannabis plants growing under controlled conditions in a bedroom and a cupboard.
Engineers were called out and found that electricity worth 155.17 had been used illegally and damage estimated at 177 had been caused to the meter.
When Ashcroft was questioned about the drugs, she said they were for her personal use and she knew it was illegal.
Warren Ridley, defending, said: "She pleaded guilty at the first opportunity when interviewed by police.
"None of the plants had reached maturity and most were still at seedling level.
"She has had some difficulties in her life and recently suffered a miscarriage. Her brother's partner has also had a miscarriage.
"She's taking an Open University course in accounting and wants a better lifestyle; she wants to make something of her life."
At an earlier hearing, Ashcroft, 24, of Devonshire Street, South Shields, admitted abstracting electricity without authority and producing a control class B drug.
The magistrates ordered reports from probation officers looking at sentencing in the high community service band.
After studying the reports, the magistrates gave Ashcroft a 12-month community service order, with supervision for 12 months.
They ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis plants and ordered her to pay 85 court costs.
They also ordered her to do 40 hours' unpaid work for the community, and to attend a skills programme.
Magistrates made no order for compensation because they were told electricity suppliers Eon had repaired the meter and the first 2.50 of any payment went to pay off her arrears.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
