A MAN caught with 53 cannabis plants at his Southampton home has been spared jail.
When police went to George Guard's home on May 30 last year they found a total of 53 cannabis plants, a court heard.
At "various stages of growth" the total street value of the drugs has been estimated at £21,200.
Prosecution barrister, Unyime Davies told that the 27-year-old had used professional equipment and chemicals to grow the plants.
Furthermore, he had illegally extracted electricity to the value of £885.42 for his set-up in Mercury Close.
During a police interview, he answered no comment to all questions.
Appearing before Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday he was charged with abstracting/using without authority electricity.
He was also charged with the production of cannabis which he pleaded guilty to on the basis it was for personal use.
Guard accepted that he shared some of the drugs with close friends and the cultivation was more than necessary to satisfy his own personal needs, the court heard.
The roofer has a previous conviction for the production of cannabis dating from 2011 and for which he was given a community order.
Defending, Jamie Gammon, told the court that his client's mental health deteriorated after his relationship ended.
Mr Gammon argued it was not Guard's intention to grow on a commercial scale of make a financial gain.
He urged the judge to impose a suspended sentence.
During sentencing, Mr Recorder Richard Smith QC weighed up the benefits to society of sending Guard to prison.
He took into consideration that he could lose his property if imprisoned and mentioned conditions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Guard received a two-year sentence, suspended for two years.
He must complete 300 hours of unpaid work and 15 hours of rehabilitation activity.
He must also pay £500 in prosecution costs.
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/1903521...pton-home/
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