Drug dealer jailed after cannabis farms found at his home - judge said his initial claims were 'clearly nonsense'

Officers discovered the illegal plants upstairs plus four separate quantities of cannabis, ready to be sold for cash, in rooms downstairs when they went to speak to Khaled Aziz.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the cannabis crop was worth up to £5,000 on the streets and the haul from the kitchen and living room could be sold on for £1,500.

Aziz initially claimed the class B drug seizure was for his own use, which a judge has said was "clearly nonsense".

The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to producing a class B drug and possessing a class B drug with intent, and has now been jailed for eight months.

Judge Robert Spragg told him: "In interview you claimed the cannabis was for your own use and the scales were to measure your purchases, which was clearly nonsense."

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw told the court police had gone to Aziz's then home in South Shields on January 31 last year to speak to him about an unrelated matter and confessed he had "a bit of smoke".

Mr Wardlaw said: "The house was searched and in an upstairs bedroom police found two cannabis farms."

The court heard one farm held 10 plants, which were close to maturity, and the other was a follow on crop containing between eight and 15 plants.

In downstairs rooms, police found four separate quantities of cannabis, ready to be sold, along with weighing scales.

When Aziz's phone was checked, it contained text messages from customers.

Mr Wardlaw added: "The defendant told police he had smoked cannabis from a young age and all that had been recovered from the address was for his own use.

"He now accepts that is not the case."

Christopher Knox, defending, said Aziz, of Wye Avenue, Jarrow, is lightly convicted, has never been to jail before and the prison regime is "particularly harsh" due to the coronavirus restrictions, with no visits allowed.

Mr Knox said: "A prison sentence, particularly a first prison sentence, is harsh in these times."

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