Littleport Man Set Up Cannabis Factory In His Own Home

A LITTLEPORT man who set up a cannabis growing operation in his rented home has been jailed for two months.

Police forced their way into Sean Pettengell's house last month, and discovered that he had caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to the property by modifying the building.

The 22-year-old had cut a hole in the ceiling of the property in Harvest Way, and caused damage to electrical wiring and water pipes.

Officers who attended on September 5 found 26 cannabis plants at various stages of growth, said prosecutor Yetunde Fawehinmi.

There were 14 plants in the loft, and another dozen plants on a window ledge in the living room.

Pettengell admitted the cultivation of cannabis, and further admitted causing criminal damage to his home, the property of Cambridge Housing Society.

Handing in photos of the growing operation to the magistrates, Mrs Fawehinmi said: "All the plants were seized; they were worth around £550."

A set of ladders were set up under the hatch in the ceiling, and inside the loft, police found lighting, electrical items, bulbs, a transformer and foil.

A surveyor from the Housing Association discovered that Pettengell had caused around £550 worth of damage to the property.

Pettengell was already subject to a four-month suspended jail sentence, imposed in June of last year for offences of burglary and theft.

"This was not a commercial enterprise, he grew the cannabis for use by himself," said solicitor Adam Haselhurst, asking the court not to jail Pettengell. "There was no particular victim of this crime; he was not going to sell it on."

Representing the probation service, Maxine Bailey said: "This offence has cost him his relationship and his home."

Sending Pettengell to prison, presiding magistrate Harvey Harrison told him: "A suspended sentence was there for a purpose, to stop you offending again. But you did offend, cultivating cannabis."

The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis.