Mansfield man pleaded guilty to growing cannabis and stealing electricity

Daniel Peterson, 30 of Bowling Street pleaded guilty at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to producing a class B drug and unlawfully abstracting electricity.

A search warrant was issued at Peterson’s address on January 5, where officers found 15 cannabis plants drying in a second floor bedroom.

In the cellar of the house they found the electricity meter had been tampered with.

Police also found a growing tent, ductingand lighting in association with growing the plants.

The estimated yield of cannabis was 370gm of cannabis with a potential street value of £11,960 if sold in gram deals.

Peterson said he ha been growing the drug for 12 weeks and had been given cuttings by a friend.

His friend said he would sell it for him after collecting it and they would split the proceeds.

He had taken the decision to grow the cannabis owing to debts he had outstanding and he had expected to receive a couple of thousand pounds for his part in the enterprise.

Magistrates heard the offence had been committed during the currency of a community order imposed for battery and criminal damage in 2014.

There was no estimate given for the amount of electricity he had fraudulently used.

The case was sent to Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on April 7.