Man who grew cannabis plants in his house jailed

Adam Bezzina

A Rochdale man who grew cannabis plants in his house has been jailed for two and a half years.

Adam Bezzina (08/08/95), of Queensway, Rochdale was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to possession of Class A drugs with the intent to supply, possession of Class A drugs, production of Class B drugs, abstracting electricity and possession of criminal property. 

Officers from GMP’s City of Manchester Challenger Unit executed a search warrant at Bezzina’s house in December 2016 following intelligence officers received.

In his bedroom, a bag of white powder – forensically confirmed as 38.7g of cocaine at 67% purity – was seized along with a large, black bag of cannabis. Two further bags, stuffed full of cannabis, were also seized from the kitchen.

When officers entered the loft, they found a fully equipped cannabis farm with hydroponic equipment such as timers, plant food, specialist lighting and ventilation ducting.

A total of 15 full-sized cannabis plants were discovered and a drugs valuation statement estimated the drugs being worth £10,300.

On examination, officers also discovered Bezzina’s phone was full of requests for drugs and the electricity supply to the house had been interfered with, estimating an abstraction of electricity to the value of £1,154.

Other items, common with drug supply, we seized from the house including empty snap bags, a debtors list, set of scales and £1,450 in cash. A large machete was also seized.

When questioned by officers in police interview, Bezzina replied ‘no comment’ throughout however, on his return to the police station, after being on bail for almost three months, he admitted his crimes.

A proceeds of crime hearing will take place at a later date.

Detective Constable Adam Cronshaw of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: “Cannabis farms are a lucrative form of illegal income, especially when the electricity meter is being bypassed.

“Added to this, was the amount of cocaine we seized from Bezzina’s house, which was no doubt intended for onward supply, far in excess of the amount considered for personal use.

“People like Bezzina exploit some of the most vulnerable people in our society who are involved in the vicious circle of drugs and they need to be stopped and brought to justice.

“I cannot stress the importance that those who profit from drugs need to be disrupted, prevented from carrying out their illicit business ventures and brought to justice.