Friday, 19 June 2015

Beauty therapist caught with cannabis farm in her basement avoids jail after claiming it was put there by gangsters without her permission

  • Olivia Corris, 22, said she returned to her flat after a night out to find drugs
  • Claims she was threatened to care for them or her family would be harmed
  • Arrested after police stormed flat and found £45,000 worth of strong skunk
  • She was given an eight month prison sentence suspended for 12 months 

Olivia Corris, 22, pictured outside Manchester Magistrates Court at a previous hearing, claims she returned home to find gangsters had left a cannabis farm in her basement
Olivia Corris, 22, pictured outside Manchester Magistrates Court at a previous hearing, claims she returned home to find gangsters had left a cannabis farm in her basement
A beauty therapist who was caught growing a cannabis farm in her basement has avoided jail after she claimed it was put there by gangsters without her knowledge.
Olivia Corris, 22, said she had been out with friends when she returned to her flat in Stockport, Greater Manchester, to find 44 super strength 'skunk' plants had been left in her home.

There was also a note with instructions saying she should feed and water them otherwise her family might be harmed, a court heard.
Corris claims she agreed to look after the plantation, even though she insisted she had never smoked the drug, in fear of reprisals.
But the former O2 telesales worker was arrested after officers burst into her home and found the maturing plants, aided by a sophisticated hydroponic system and five heat lamps.

The yield had a potential to flood the streets with up to 2.26kg of potent skunk - which could have fetched £45,200 if it was sold for the right price.
At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Corris admitted producing cannabis but claimed she was said to have exploited by a more 'criminally-minded' group.
She told the court they preyed on the fact she lived alone after leaving her parents' home in the Cheshire suburb of Bowdon, near Altrincham.
In a statement she said: 'I challenged them and I was told in no uncertain terms that the farm was staying. 

'I accept matters progressed to the extent that the owners of the farm told me to feed the plants and control the lighting and I did so. 
'It was never suggested I would receive any gain if it was successful.'
Earlier, prosecutor Charlotte Crangle said the farm was discovered on October 13 last year when police attended Corris' rented accommodation as part of a search for a wanted man.

She said: 'There were no people in the property so they forced entry and discovered the cannabis farm in the basement of the address, an area described as two metres by three metres.
'It was found to have 44 plants along with a hydroponic system, five heat lamps and the usual paraphernalia associated with growing cannabis. 
Corris, a beauty therapist, said there was instructions telling her to care for the plant or her family would be harmed
Olivia Corris
Corris, a beauty therapist, said there was instructions telling her to care for the plant or her family would be harmed
The former telesales worker said she agreed to look after the plant, though she had never smoked the drug, over fear of reprisals
The yield had a potential to flood the streets with up to 2.26kg of potent skunk - which could have fetched £45,200 if it was sold for the right price
The former telesales worker said she agreed to look after the plant, though she had never smoked the drug, over fear of reprisals 
'The plants were analysed and there was a yield potential of 1.13kg to 2.26kg.
'If the yield was sold at £20 per gram it would fetch £22,600 to £45,200. It was the stronger skunk variety.'

In mitigation the court heard Corris had been introduced to the unnamed group of men through an old school friend she used to see when walking her dog.
But whilst she was out, the men kicked her door through and when she returned she 'discovered' the farm in her cellar. 
When Corris tried to tell the gang to leave, they relayed her parents' address and implied violence would follow if she didn't comply.
Corris was given an eight month prison sentence suspended for 12 months and was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work
Corris was given an eight month prison sentence suspended for 12 months and was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work
Her lawyer Amanda Johnson said Corris - who has previous convictions for fly tipping and violence - didn't abuse alcohol, take drugs or even smoke.
She added: 'There were four of five men who were initially friendly but soon forced themselves on her at home and into her property. 
'She lived alone and did not feel able to stand up to them. It begs the question - why didn't she contact the police? The answer is fear of reprisals.

'She knew some of them had a history of crime. Two of them have been in prison in the past. The final straw came when they relayed her parents' address to her - the number and street. 
'Her parents live in Bowdon and these males would have no way of knowing that if they hadn't gone out of their way to find that information.

'So it is that a cannabis farm was placed in the address. She is a young woman who has been exploited by those more criminally-minded and of more forceful character. 
'She is aware this is serious. She is not a cannabis user and never has been.'
Corris was given an eight month prison sentence suspended for 12 months and was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Andrew Lowcock told her she had come 'very close' to going straight to prison.
He said: 'Your basis of plea is you were coerced into allowing this by threats against your family and didn't receive any financial benefit. Drugs are a curse and people who grow cannabis and help can frequently end up in prison.
'You have an explanation of apparent vulnerability but you should choose the people you associate with more carefully in the future.' 

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