DRUGS FARM WAS RUN IN CODE FROM JAIL CELL

Inspired by the cult television series Star Trek, Robin Scott set up his
own captain's log 'to boldly grow where no man had grown before'.

Awaiting trial for cultivating and supplying cannabis following a police
raid on his farm in Cornwall, he set up a second cannabis factory in a
neighbour's barn and later - after he had been jailed for four years -
controlled the family-run operation from his prison cell using an elaborate
system of codewords in phone calls and letters home, a court heard yesterday.

Scott and his wife, Adrienne, had been on bail when they rented a barn from
71-year-old Avis Roberts at Crylla, near Liskeard, in order to go back into
business. After he was jailed, Scott pretended to be giving advice about a
poultry business when he communicated with his wife and daughter.

But Truro Crown Court heard that mention of eggs in the daily letters and
phone calls was code for ounces of cannabis. Chickens meant cannabis plants.

Michael Brabin, prosecuting, said that when police raided Mrs Roberts's
barn in August 1997 they had found "an extensive and blatantly commercial
production of cannabis".

In the loft of the barn police found 75 plants being grown using
sophisticated hydroponic methods. They estimated the factory had in 16
months produced some 22 kilograms of drugs worth around UKP88,000.

A diary recording watering and feeding details was seized. It was labelled
'The Captain's Log Part II, Stardate May 1 1996 - The Resurrection'.

Mr Brabin said the record was obviously the sequel to the original log
seized at the Scott's own farm in December 1995.

Scott, 49, yesterday admitted cultivating and supplying cannabis and was
jailed for two and a half years.

His wife, also 49, and daughter Sally, aged 21, admitted cultivation and
were given community service orders. Mrs Roberts admitted allowing the barn
to be used to grow the drugs. She was fined UKP1,000 and had UKP750
proceeds confiscated.

Barrie van der Berg, for Robin and Adrienne Scott, said the couple believed
in the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes but that they accepted
they had gone too far in their campaign. They did not intend to break the
law again.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan