Chef caught growing cannabis at pole dancing gym in Kirkintilloch

A Chef is facing jail after he admitted growing more than £15,000 worth of cannabis in a pole dancing gym in Kirkintilloch.

Published 14th Feb 2017

A Chef is facing jail after he admitted growing more than £15,000 worth of cannabis in a pole dancing gym in Kirkintilloch.

James Owens, 37, was snared when police showed up to the premises.

They found 40 “mature” plants in tents worth up to £400 each, and another 40 small plants.

Owens, from the same area, pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to producing and being concerned in the supply of the class C drug between September and December 2015.

The court was told the premises at Campsie Road operates as a pole dancing premises by a relatiave of Owens, and police had “cause to attend”.

They were allowed in and it was heard that it “became clear there were a number of plants being cultivated that appeared to be cannabis”.

Owens - who has a similar previous conviction - was detained along with others and during a police interview admitted that he was involved in the cultivation.

Procurator fiscal depute Amel Elfallah said: “He told police he had been growing plants for about 12 weeks and that the first crop had been given to the person who had given him the equipment.

“He advised the police that he was in financial difficulties and that it was his intention to sell the next crop to relieve that.”

A search of the premises revealed two large growing tents with 40 mature plants that would be worth around £400 each.

She added that the 40 smaller plants, had fans and filters but weren't in the growing tents, would need to grow to be worth anything.

Defence lawyer James Reilly said the dad-of-two is expecting his third child and is a chef in Wishaw.

Sheriff Paul Crozier deferred sentence until next month for reports and continued Owens’ bail.