Cannabis man praised (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Cannabis man praised

A WINCHCOMBE man who runs a website promoting cannabis growing has had his community order revoked because he has made such a success of his community work.

Julian Heeks, aged 37, of Cowl Lane, Winchcombe, was sentenced to do 100 hours of community work and given a two year community rehabilitation order in November last year after police found a total of 44 cannabis plants growing at his home.

They produced a total yield of 450 grams of the drug, and Heeks admitted cultivating cannabis, two charges of supplying it and one of making an offer to supply.

But on Tuesday, Heeks' probation officer Sian Worrall told a judge a Gloucester Crown Court that Heeks had made good enough progress at the community work side of his punishment that the rehabilitation order should be revoked.

Judge Jamie Tabor, QC, agreed to revoke the remaining community rehabilitation part of the order, saying: "He's done very well indeed and has always turned up, except when he's been unwell."

At his sentencing in November 2005, prosecutor Giles Nelson said: "The defendant, by his own admission, is involved in an organisation called UK420.com, a website which promotes the home growing of cannabis.

"That company, it is accepted by the Crown, is largely concerned with selling seeds and paraphernalia to grow cannabis at home."