Colin Guidon and Michael Hulme jailed

Colin Guidon from Middleton and Michael Hulme from Newhey have been jailed after a drugs farm that produced £139,000 worth of cannabis was linked back to them.

Guidon, 45 and Hulme, 30, were caught after leaving their DNA on cigarette butts and fingerprints at the scene.

Both men pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and Hulme was jailed for 32 months and Guidon was jailed for 27 months.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/97643/colin-guidon-and-michael-hulme-plead-guilty-to-producing-cannabis

Police executed a warrant at Height Barn Mill in Bacup and found 436 cannabis plants in three growing areas on the first floor, along with 41 lighting units and transformers. Officers also found a number of soft drinks and cigarette butts which were examined and found to have the defendants DNA on them.

Burnley Crown Court heard that both men ‘denied participating’ or had ‘innocent explanations’ as to why their fingerprints were found when they were interviewed.

A basis of plea agreed by the court established that both defendants were involved in the ‘setting up, but not the ongoing growing operation’.

The court also heard that Hulme was under ‘financial duress’ and the cannabis farm was a ‘way to pay off the debt.’ Hulme already has a previous conviction for producing cannabis and has had a problem with drugs since he was 15-years-old.

It is understood that Hulme stated that he was ‘unaware of the scale of the operation’.

The defence for Guidon stated that he suffered anxiety and wanted to ‘rid himself of an addiction to cannabis’ for many years. Hulme also stated that he didn’t know the operation ‘was going to be as large as it was’.