POLICE searching a Deeside flat recovered 68 female cannabis flowering heads and a book on how to grow marijuana easily.

The prosecution at Mold Crown Court yesterday put the value of the potential yield at £27,400 but the defence suggested it was half that amount.

The tenant of the flat at The Red Hall Precinct in Connah’s Quay, Christopher Wright, admitted producing the cannabis, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, and possessing 16.8 grammes of cocaine for his own use. He was jailed for a year.

Judge John Rogers QC said that for something like three months, between March and June last year, Wright was involved in the production of cannabis plants and in its supply.

“In addition, when arrested, you had a substantial amount of cocaine in your possession,” Judge Rogers told him.

A prison sentence was inevitable but he took into account his guilty pleas, and the changes he had made in his life since his arrest.

Elizabeth Bell, prosecuting, said that in his basis of plea Wright said he had agreed to participate in the growing of cannabis in order to pay off a debt. He did supply, but only to friends.

On June 8 police searched his flat. He was seen locking the door as officers approached, he was taken inside and the plants were found together with a book called Easy Marijuana Gardening.

The cocaine was said to have a street value of £670.

Text messages on his mobile phone were consistent with supplying cannabis.

Now a financial investigation under the Proceeds of Crime is to take place.

Andrew Green, defending, said there was no forensic evidence in the case and the potential yield suggested by the police was not accepted.

Wright, 27, was not heavily convicted, had no previous convictions for supply and it was clear that custody would not be easy for him.

Since his arrest Wright had been able to trace his father who he had lost contact with many years ago.

He was now living with his father in the Cannock area of Staffordshire, far away from the peers he had at the time of his offending, and his father was in court to
support him.

Wright had suffered bereavement.

He had obtained full-time work with a car components firm and had displayed a good work ethic and it was clear that over the last 10 months his life had undergone a significant change.

Mr Green asked for a sentence that “will not derail his rehabilitation”.