A Bolton man was found to be growing cannabis after police attended reports of a burglary at his home. Police were called to Arnold Street, Halliwell, in May last year. Bolton Crown Court heard burglars entered the property and found Nigel Wilson inside.
They found him in his bedroom with two children and some cannabis. Wilson said his property had been burgled and some cannabis had been stolen by individuals who had entered and made threats towards him. Officers then found the remnants of a cannabis growth elsewhere.
Olivia Brooksbank-Laing said this had an estimated street value of between £4,000 and £13,000. She added “He has 15 previous convictions but none for drugs before this.” The prosecution accepted that the drugs were not intended to be dealt by Wilson.
Wilson, aged 44 and from Arnold Street, Halliwell, Bolton, appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting the attempted abstraction of electricity, possession of cannabis and production of cannabis. Edmund Potts, defending, said: “Mr Wilson wants me to say how sorry he is for his actions. “It is right to say he has health difficulties, that was why his behaviour came about.
“He is generally someone who can be relied upon. “He works at a garage in Breightmet." He also said he had repaid £2,800 to the electricity company.
Read more: Bolton's most wanted named and pictured Read more: Police launch investigation as historic pub targeted Read more: Man exposed himself to two women Judge Elliot Knopf said: “This all came to light when your property was entered and they threatened you and members of your family. “They were involved in a melee. “How it came to be that these men knew what was happening in the house it would be idle for me to speculate.
“The position is that this was activity by you to deal with your health problems.” He imposed a community order to last for 18 months and ordered him to attend at 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £150 in costs.
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