The UK's most up-to-date social housing and public sector news website
Man jailed over 'UK's biggest cannabis farm'
Other Communities stories
- British Airways strike to go ahead as last-minute talks collapse
- 'Dangerous, ugly and boring' Bradford named least-attractive city
- Concern for mother after abandoned baby found dead
- Inquiry demanded into asylum seekers' tower block deaths
- Police receive complaint over Lord Tebbit 'dragon kicking' incident
Advertisement
A man who grew marijuana plants in Kent at what police believe was the UK's biggest cannabis factory has been jailed.
Stephen Rochester cultivated more than 4,000 of the plants at a 20,000 square-foot warehouse on an industrial estate in Ramsgate. The street value of the plants was valued at between £1.9m and £2.5m, Canterbury Crown Court heard.
Rochester, 60, of Cliffsend Grove, and another man, Dennis Murphy, 40, of Frazier Street, south London, admitted cultivating cannabis.
The drugs factory was raided on May 8 last year.
Rochester was jailed for four years and nine months while Murphy received a nine-month suspended sentence and 120 hours' community service.
Detective Chief Inspector Rob Vinson of Kent Police said: "This was the biggest cannabis factory find in the South East and possibly the country and its discovery has made a major dent in the drugs supply in Thanet and possibly in the South East.
"We have seen an increase in cannabis factories and the clear message to anyone who gets involved in the cultivation of drugs is 'be prepared to go to prison'."
Copyright Press Association 2007
Don't miss the 24dash.com audio bulletins for the latest news and information - http://www.24dash.com/podcasts
