Police bust £10k cannabis factory as debt-ridden Stokie dodges jail

A debt-ridden charity worker has been drawn into a cannabis operation after allowing a rental unit to be used for cultivation to clear his debts. Steven Kennedy, 32, of Chell Heath, admitted letting the unit into a grow, which police uncovered in November and estimated could yield up to 2.5 kilograms. The 90 plants found could have produced a market value of up to £10,000. Kennedy was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 30 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours of unpaid work. He also pleaded guilty to possession of a class B drug and permitting premises to be used for production. The judge noted a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and warned that immediate custody would cause significant harm. Kennedy must pay £150 in costs. The case illustrates how debt pressures can drive individuals to use commercial premises for cannabis production to pay debts.