Bacup builder let Bolton home be used for cannabis farm

Blackburn Magistrates’ Court heard Matthew Cooper had borrowed £3,000, and when the second lockdown kicked in, he was unable to service the debt.

The court was told the way out offered to Cooper was to allow his rented property to be used to grow cannabis.

He took that option, but the plan blew up in his face when there was a fire at the property in Bolton, and firefighters reported the cannabis farm to police.

Cropper, 42, of Rochdale Road, Bacup, pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis.

He was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £154 victim surcharge.

Andrew Hey, prosecuting, said fire crews attended an address in Ainsworth Road, Little Lever, on September 6, 2024.

While dealing with the fire, they discovered cannabis growing in a bedroom and a cupboard, and that the electricity meter had been bypassed.

“The fire caused extensive damage to the property,” said Mr Hey.

Gareth Price, mitigating, said his client had set up his own building business shortly before the pandemic hit in 2020.

“He fell on hard times and was using food banks in an attempt to support his family,” said Mr Price.

“In these difficult times, he was directed to a loan shark and borrowed £3,000.”

During the second lockdown, he was unable to pay the debt and began receiving threats.

“It was not pleasant,” said Mr Price. “They offered him a solution, which was allowing the property he rented to be used for growing cannabis.

“He let them in, and they did everything. He was assured there would be two crops and that would pay the debt.”

Mr Price said his client eventually borrowed £4,000 from his mother to pay the debt.

“He moved out of the area and is trying to get his business going again,” said Mr Price.

The chair of the magistrates told Cropper he had been a victim to some extent.

“You were coerced into allowing your property to be used as it was,” he said.

Cropper told the chair: “I was backed into a corner and I made a very bad decision.”