A landlord who rented out one of his flats has managed to escape a prison sentence as he was judged being complicit in growing cannabis in one of his rented flats by turning his back on the situation.

The Southampton landlord told the court he knew that the cannabis farm existed in his property. The police estimated that the "farm" would have fetched between £8,000 and £10,000 yield per year

 

The 31 year old landlord was ordered to pay £1,600 in fines, costs and a surcharge, he was able to get away with a 16 month suspended sentence however he had to carry out a 200 hour community work order.

The judge presiding at court said that the defendant was unable to pay the mortgage as originally he we was going to move in with his girlfriend, because this did not happen he had returned to his mother's home having decided to rent the flat out.

As he was receiving £550 monthly rent he took the decision to not to inform the police that cannabis was being grown in the flat to sell on. However he did not take part in cultivating the plant or was involved in selling the cannabis and did not receive any percentage of profits. (Receiving rent was not seen as profiteering?)

It did come to light that the landlord had committed 59 previous offences for which he had received 18 convictions.

Four of the offences were for possessing cannabis.