'Role model' had drug factory in warehouse

AN "anti-drugs" parish councillor faces jail after showing "breathtaking hypocrisy" in trying to hide his involvement in a cannabis factory.

Steve Crowther, 56, from Flamborough, East Yorkshire, who described himself as a "role model" in the community, admitted being concerned with the production of drugs, but claimed he knew nothing about it.

The councillor told Hull Crown Court he was "absolutely dumbfounded" to find a traveller known only as "John" and another man along with 123 cannabis plants, worth nearly 7,000, when he walked into his own warehouse one night last December.

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He claimed he had been "gullible" and the traveller had set up the drugs factory in his warehouse without him knowing – and had not immediately called police because he feared "reprisals".

He said he had ordered them to clear out the drugs, but officers also found cannabis plants as well as lighting and heating equipment 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.

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But Judge Jeremy Richardson QC said: "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."

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Prosecuting, Howard Shaw said Crowther began renting the warehouse last November intending to use it to store gas canisters.

But he claimed he was approached by John who wanted to work on a car there for 150 a month. On December 13 Crowther went to the warehouse at midnight to collect travel documents for his grandson and was surprised the lights were still on. Mr Shaw asked Crowther 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."

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Mr Shaw then said: "You 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 denied any knowledge of the drug factory before December 13, and did not have any contact details or surname for John.

When police raided the former telephone exchange near Market Weighton they found sockets had recently been installed along with electrical transformers, suggesting it could also have been used for manufacturing cannabis.

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

He said he had lent the Transit 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 Bridlington.

He admitted a charge of being concerned with the production of a Class B controlled drug before his trial was due to begin.

The judge warned him to expect a jail sentence when he is sentenced in December.