Woman left loft be used for drugs

A VULNERABLE woman who allowed her home to be used to grow cannabis insisted on taking her teddy bear into the dock with her when she appeared at Norwich Crown Court.

A VULNERABLE woman who allowed her home to be used to grow cannabis insisted on taking her teddy bear into the dock with her when she appeared at Norwich Crown Court.

Joann Allman, 35, who allowed 24 cannabis plants to be grown in her loft at her home in Lingwood asked through her barrister if she could take her bear into the dock with her.

Allman of Norwich Road, Lingwood, who admitted allowing her premises to be used for growing cannabis, was also in the dock with James Short, 22, of Blofield Road, Lingwood who admitted to producing cannabis.

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said that when police visited Allman's address on March 23 this year they found 24 cannabis plants growing in the loft like “a miniature cannabis factory”.

He said the plants had a potential yield of �5,000 to �6,000.

He said that Short had not set up the growing system for the plants but had just tended and watered them.

Mr Youell said that Allman admitted that she had “tolerated” the growing of cannabis in her loft.

Jonathan Morgans for Allman said her life was particularly chaotic at the time of the offence.

“She is a person who people tend to take advantage of as she is someone who finds it difficult to say No to other people.”

He said that she had been trying to get off drugs but since the offence had now been given the help and support she needed to do that and turn her life around.

Danielle O'Donovan for Short said he played no part in setting up the operation but merely tended the plants. She said his only reward was to have a little of the cannabis.

Judge Anthony Bate jailed Short for six months but gave a suspended six months sentence to Allman as she had turned her life around. He also ordered Allman to do 180 hours unpaid work.