Chef jailed over 'cannabis factory' at East Dunbartonshire pole dancing gym
A chef’s been jailed for 18 months after he confessed to growing more than £15,000 worth of cannabis in a pole dancing gym in East Dunbartonshire.
A chef’s been jailed for 18 months after he confessed to growing more than £15,000 worth of cannabis in a pole dancing gym in East Dunbartonshire.
James Owens, 37, was snared when police showed up to the premises in Kirkintilloch.
They found 40 “mature” plants in tents worth up to £400 each and 40 small plants.
Owens pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to producing and being concerned in the supply of the class C drug between September and December 2015.
Sheriff Paul Crozier jailed Owens for 18 months.
The court previously heard the premises a Campsie Road in the north of the city operates as a pole dancing premises and police had “cause to attend”.
Police were allowed in and 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 had 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 to supply the plants.
“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 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.