A gipsy did it, says 'anti-drug' councillor with cannabis factory in his yard

Steve Crowther, 56, who described himself as an "anti-drug role model" in Flamborough, was shown up after admitting being concerned with the production of drugs but claiming he knew nothing of it.

The councillor and youth worker told a court he didn't know about a major cannabis production operation in his own warehouse yards from his DIY business - but his version of events was savaged by a judge.

Hull Crown Court heard had been "absolutely dumbfounded" when he walked into the unit at midnight on December 13 last year to find a local gipsy known as John and another man surrounded by 123 cannabis plants worth nearly 7,000 .

Instead of calling the police he ordered them to clear his warehouse of the drugs - but police also found cannabis plants plus lighting and heating equipment for them in his Transit van.

They also found evidence that another of Crowther's buildings - a remote former telephone exchange - was being prepared to act as a second factory.

After pleading guilty, Crowther gave evidence to try to prove he had no knowledge of the crime. He claimed he had been "gullible" and the traveller had set up the drugs factory in his warehouse without him knowing - and he had not immediately called police because he feared "reprisals".

He explained he had not seen his van for two weeks after lending it to a work colleague, and was intending to use the other building for lead smelting.

But Judge Jeremy Richardson QC poured scorn on his story, telling him: "You told a catalogue of lies with a nauseating and quite breathtaking hypocrisy.

"Your hypocrisy is demonstrated by your comments that you were a role model for young children in the community, when you were a participant in a cannabis factory in the area where you were a parish councillor.

"You endeavoured to give an innocent explanation, however you were not an impressive witness. There is an irresistible inference you were more involved than you let on. The catalogue of coincidences here denote guilt.

"You were involved in the operation knowingly and fully and I comprehensively reject your account."

Prosecuting, Howard Shaw revealed that Crowther, a grandfather, had begun renting the warehouse in November last year as he intended to store gas canisters in it at a later date.

But he claimed he was approached by a traveller known only as John, who said he wanted to use the site to work on a car for 150 a month.

This was agreed - but on December 13 Crowther had driven to the site at midnight to pick up travel documents for his grandson when he was surprised that lights were still on inside Unit 1G.

Crowther was called to the witness box, and was asked by Mr Shaw why he had not called police immediately.

He replied: "I walked in and saw a tent. John and another lad were inside. I told them to get it all out. I'm a leading figure in Flamborough, the last thing I want to do is get involved in drugs.

"I'm a parish councillor, started a youth committee and was always a role model. I'm not going to start dealing in drugs, I don't believe in it.

"I didn't call police because feared reprisals because it was to do with drugs. It would have stuck out, they would have known it was me if I had reported it that night."

Mr Shaw then said: "You rented and were involved in the growing of cannabis, and knew about it long before that night. You chose an isolated location for expansion and you are trying to hang the blame on the convenient hook of John, a gipsy who doesn't exist."

Crowther said: "No, sir." He added that he had been "gullible" but denied any knowledge of the drug factory before 13 December, and did not have any contact details or surname for John.

Police also raided a former telephone exchange building in a remote spot near Market Weighton, which was also rented by him. It was empty but they found sockets had recently been installed along with electrical transformers, suggesting it could also have been used for manufacturing cannabis.

Crowther denied any knowledge of this and said it would eventually be used for melting lead.

A Transit belonging to him was found three miles from Flamborough with 14 cannabis plants inside, electrical equipment and a tent used for growing the plants.

He said he had not seen this van for two weeks, after he had lent it to a work colleague who subsequently lent it to a friend, and was at a loss to explain why it had been found abandoned with drugs inside in nearby Bridlington.

He admitted a charge of being concerned with the production of a Class B controlled drug before his trial was due to begin. He will be sentenced in December and Judge Richardson told him there was a "very real likelihood" of a custodial sentence.