Woman whose ex-partner grew cannabis plants in their loft 'extremely sorry' after she ended up in court herself

Michael Whitehouse was also holding £12,000 of the class A drug and the weapon for a criminal associate when police raided his home.

Officers found 27 cannabis plants, worth around £18,000, in the loft and 137g of cannabis bush in a kitchen cupboard.

Newcastle Crown Court heard it was on February 8 2018 that police raided the house Whitehouse was sharing with then-partner, KirstyRice in Newcastle.

Both have since moved to different addresses.

Prosecutor Lewis Kerr told the court: "The cocaine was found in an outbuilding contained in bags that were themselves contained in a swimming pool thatwas presumably uninflated.

"The defendant has pleaded guilty on the basis he was retaining the cocaine for his dealer.

"The weapon was recovered from within the bag containing the cocaine in the swimming pool in the shed. It was taser and was in working order."

Whitehouse, 33, of Mulberry Gardens, Felling, Gateshead, who has 19 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis, possession with intent to supply cannabis, possessing cannabis shatter, possessing a prohibited torch taser and being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

He was sentenced to two years suspended for two years with 100 hours unpaid work, a four month curfew between 8pm and 7am and rehabilitation.

Rice, 33, of Cherry Tree Walk, Hebburn, who has no previous convictions, admitted allowing premises to be used for the production of cannabis and wassentenced to a community order for 18 months with 120 hours unpaid work.

Matthew Purves, for Whitehouse, said: "He has a long history with cannabis and began growing it for himself and some of it would have been supplied.

"He is no fool or down and out. He has engaged in running a business in the past.

"He has a true entrepreneurial spirit within him and has developed a business operating sanitising services which appears to be progressing nicely."

Rachel Hedworth, for Rice, said: "She's extremely sorry.

"She left the address and ended the relationship with Whitehouse after this.

"She got carried away during the relationship. She felt strongly about him and that clouded her judgement.

"She has always been responsible and hard-working."

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