ANGER OVER DRUGGIE'S 'SOFT' SENTENCE

A MAN who grew a ?10,000 cannabis farm escaped with a ?150 fine after
claiming that smoking the drug eased his cravings for heroin.

Today, a top politician slammed the sentence as "soft" while a leading
town detective called for consistency in punishing drug criminals.

John Arnold, 42, appeared at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court after
police uncovered his stash of cannabis plants during a search on his
former home in Jesmond Gardens.

Our picture shows the ?10,000 crop of 41 mature plants that were found
during a police raid on the property on January 11.

Sophisticated growing equipment was also found in the rear bedroom of
the house including lights and fertilizer.

Arnold admitted producing the Class C drug, but he was fined ?150
after the court heard he smoked the cannabis to ease his cravings for
heroin, and that he grew it for his own use.

Last September, another Hartlepool man was given six months behind
bars after a cannabis stash was discovered at his home, with just
seven more plants than Arnold.

Ian Bradshaw, prosecuting, said: "He was arrested and interviewed the
same day and he told the police that he had been growing the plants
for 12 weeks after reading up on how to grow them on the internet.

"He said he had bought 10 deals of cannabis bush which had a number of
seeds he could plant.

"He added that he had bought equipment and fully admitted
production.

"He said that the plants were three quarters grown."

Adrian Morris, mitigating, said that it was an "amateur set up" and
that he was on treatment for an addiction to heroin.

Mr Morris added: "He is on methadone and he decided to grow cannabis
for his own use to assist in helping to numb his cravings for heroin."

Arnold, now of Richardson Street, Hartlepool, was fined ?150 and
ordered to pay a ?15 surcharge and ?45 costs.

Detective Chief Inspector, Paul Beddow vowed to crackdown on drugs
activity when he took on his position in Hartlepool Police late last
year - and some ?700,000 worth of cannabis have been seized during
police operations.

He said: "I am unable to comment on this particular case and the
sentencing of this individual.

"However, there is a clear need and public expectation for us to
combat crime and drugs in Hartlepool and this is another example of
the police being pro-active in that fight.

"Whilst I acknowledge that cannabis is a Class C drug, the cultivation
of such is obviously far more serious than that of simple possession.

"There is a real issue that if the sentencing does not reflect the
seriousness of the offence then committing such offences becomes an
acceptable risk."

Conservative MEP for the North East, Martin Callanan, said: "This
seems like a very lenient sentence and will do nothing to discourage
other drug users or drug dealers.

"Drugs are a serious threat to our law abiding society and I am in
favour of the law being enforced.

"Whilst I agree with rehabilitation, we can't afford to give out soft
sentences and it sends out a very poor message."