North Bersted pensioner jailed

Alan Bradbury, of Sandymount Avenue, appeared at Chichester Crown Court yesterday where he was sentenced to 16 months for the production of cannabis.

The 72-year-old was arrested last October after police officers executed a drugs warrant at his address.

Some 49 cannabis plants were found in the property’s loft, which yielded 1.81kg of the class B drug and had an estimated street value of between £18,000 and £27,000.

The court heard Bradbury allowed another person to set up the factory in his home as a result of mounting financial pressures.

He was told he would receive a lump sum of £3,000 for allowing the growing operation to be set up at his address.

Passing sentence Judge William Wood QC said: “This is a sad case in which a 72-year-old man has pleaded guilty to growing cannabis in his own home. Like many he got into financial difficulty and in an effort to try and find his way out of this financial difficulty he thus became involved with a serious criminal.”

The destruction of the drugs and equipment used was also ordered.