Pensioner earnt £14,000 from cannabis in attic

A PENSIONER grew cannabis in the attic of her home to support her retirement, a court was told.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Nov 2012, 06:00 BST

Carol Merritt’s three-year criminal enterprise came to an end in June after police were called to a burglary at the home she shared with husband Mick in Bramley, Leeds, and smelled the drug.

Officers seized over £4,000 of skunk but the court was told the 62-year-old had earned £14,000 from the operation. She had admitted it was her fourth harvest of the drug and she had been selling packages to friends for around £160 a time.

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The former secretary and care home nurse said she was coming up to retirement and needed extra money for carpets and food. Mick Merritt, 47, told officers he knew his wife was growing cannabis but thought it was for her own use.

The couple, of Station Place, pleaded guilty to production of a class B drug before Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

Carol Merritt was given a four-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work. Her husband was given a 12-month community and supervision order.