Two charged with drug offences after shooting incident

Villagers spoke of their shock after West Mercia officers investigating an alleged break-in at the home of a man named locally as 62-year-old Malcolm White found a “well-organised and large-scale” cannabis farm during forensic searches of the house.

He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and of cultivating controlled drugs after the shooting in Leigh Sinton, Worcestershire, on Wednesday night.

West Mercia Police have now charged a 62-year-old man with producing a controlled class B drug (cannabis) and possession of a firearm without a certificate.

A 24-year-old man from Birmingham was also charged with three counts of possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate, production of a class B controlled drug (cannabis), aggravated burglary of a dwelling with intent and possessing ammunition for a firearm when prohibited to do so for five years.

Both men were remanded in custody and will appear before Hereford Magistrates’ Court today.

On Thursday officers investigating the alleged break-in at White’s home in Whitbourne also arrested another man, in his 20s, in the West Midlands area on suspicion of burglary. He remained in police custody yesterday, the force spokeswoman said.

White’s arrest followed two incidents – a reported burglary at the property in Whitbourne, Herefordshire, and the shooting of a man found with injuries around 12 miles away in the Worcestershire village of Leigh Sinton.

West Mercia Police believe both are linked.

The man was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

He is not under arrest, the force spokeswoman said.

A woman, in her 50s, was arrested of suspicion of cultivating controlled drugs and has since been released on police bail.