Ex-Featherstone Prison worker caught growing cannabis farm

Michael Cunningham was not at home when police raided the address at Whitehouse Crescent, Ashmore Park, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The officers could smell the drugs from outside the property and found 30 plants being grown under a 'sophisticated' hydroponic system in a front room, revealed Miss Balvinder Bhatti, prosecuting.

Scales, dealer bags and a bag of cannabis were also discovered in the airing cupboard and kitchen during the swoop. Experts later estimated that the crop could be valued at between £4,500 and £25,000.

Two days afterwards - on Christmas Eve - the 24-year-old, who had previously worked at Featherstone Prison, South Staffordshire, gave himself up to police.

The father of one later resigned from his job as a carer, without informing his boss of the impending court case, to avoid embarrassing the business where he was employed at the time, disclosed Mr James Doyle, defending, who continued:"He is currently unemployed but had previously worked for two years as an operational support grade officer at HMP Featherstone."

Mr Doyle said that Cunningham was a cannabis user and added: "This enterprise started as a hobby and got somewhat out of control. Initially it had been for his own use."

Cunningham, now of Old School Lane, Bilston, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work.

Judge Simon Ward told him: "You had a sophisticated set up. This was not a case of a little bit of gardening so that you could enjoy a smoke.

"I do not doubt you got a smoke out of it but after going to the trouble of setting up the hydroponic system it is quite obvious it made you some money as a side line."

The judge said the defendant was not being sent into immediate custody because he was of previous good character and had given up his work after his arrest."