Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
A businessman's attempt to sell cannabis and create oil to treat his chronic skin condition was discovered by police when burglars stole his crop.
Officers investigated a break-in at a rented unit in East Bridgford Business Park and found more than 60 pots - containing just the roots of cannabis plants.
Matthew Rialas, who leased the unit for his solar power business, was arrested and charged with producing the plants between November and December last year.
At Nottingham Crown Court yesterday, the judge told the dad-of-one, who had previously pleaded guilty, that his case was "unusual".
Judge Rosalind Coe QC sentenced him to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours of unpaid work and electronic tagging between 9pm and 6am.
She accepted he suffered from a skin condition — an incurable long-term problem which clearly affected his life — but stressed his role had been a "significant one".
David Allan, prosecuting, asked for a proceeds-of-crime hearing to be adjourned until August 21, to look into the defendant's assets.
He told the court that at the time of the burglary, the shutter door to the premises had been removed and inside was a large number of plant pots containing the roots.
He said: "On April 9, Rialas pleaded guilty on the basis half were for personal use and half were for sale."
Rialas, 30, of Church Drive, Daybrook, had previous convictions for dishonesty, driving matters and one for possessing a small quantity of cannabis seed in Switzerland, where he had once worked.
Robert Duval, in mitigation, handed medical reports to the judge from doctors in Switzerland and the UK, saying his client had suffered from a severe form of neurological dermatitis since childhood.
He said the condition affected a large percentage of his client's body.
Rialas became concerned about using conventional treatments, such as steroids, and became an "obsessive" researcher to seek out other remedies.
In Switzerland, he learned cannabis may offer assistance to him, explained Mr Duval.
He said Rialas started using cannabis oil two years ago and found that, combined with medication, it helped him considerably. He accepted he grew the cannabis for his own use to manufacturer the oil. "This was his first attempt at growing," he said.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Bridgford businessman's cannabis crop uncovered by police after burglary | Nottingham Post
Author: Web Staff
Contact: Nottingham Post | Contact us
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Nottingham Post, Nottingham Post Online | NottinghamPost.co.uk
Officers investigated a break-in at a rented unit in East Bridgford Business Park and found more than 60 pots - containing just the roots of cannabis plants.
Matthew Rialas, who leased the unit for his solar power business, was arrested and charged with producing the plants between November and December last year.
At Nottingham Crown Court yesterday, the judge told the dad-of-one, who had previously pleaded guilty, that his case was "unusual".
Judge Rosalind Coe QC sentenced him to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours of unpaid work and electronic tagging between 9pm and 6am.
She accepted he suffered from a skin condition — an incurable long-term problem which clearly affected his life — but stressed his role had been a "significant one".
David Allan, prosecuting, asked for a proceeds-of-crime hearing to be adjourned until August 21, to look into the defendant's assets.
He told the court that at the time of the burglary, the shutter door to the premises had been removed and inside was a large number of plant pots containing the roots.
He said: "On April 9, Rialas pleaded guilty on the basis half were for personal use and half were for sale."
Rialas, 30, of Church Drive, Daybrook, had previous convictions for dishonesty, driving matters and one for possessing a small quantity of cannabis seed in Switzerland, where he had once worked.
Robert Duval, in mitigation, handed medical reports to the judge from doctors in Switzerland and the UK, saying his client had suffered from a severe form of neurological dermatitis since childhood.
He said the condition affected a large percentage of his client's body.
Rialas became concerned about using conventional treatments, such as steroids, and became an "obsessive" researcher to seek out other remedies.
In Switzerland, he learned cannabis may offer assistance to him, explained Mr Duval.
He said Rialas started using cannabis oil two years ago and found that, combined with medication, it helped him considerably. He accepted he grew the cannabis for his own use to manufacturer the oil. "This was his first attempt at growing," he said.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Bridgford businessman's cannabis crop uncovered by police after burglary | Nottingham Post
Author: Web Staff
Contact: Nottingham Post | Contact us
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Nottingham Post, Nottingham Post Online | NottinghamPost.co.uk
