A carpenter from Llanelli turned his dad’s garage into a full-blown cannabis operation! Dean Richards, 45, thought he could balance sawdust with spliffs, but the law had other plans. 😲
Based in Bynea Business Park, Richards used his skills to set up a professional cannabis-growing business. A recent raid by the police unearthed an impressive setup with 55 cannabis plants, grow tents, fans, and more in his dad’s garage.
Richards clearly did his homework, with cannabis stashed not just at the garage but also in his garden shed! A hefty find of almost 2kg at the business park and another third-of-a-kilo at home didn’t help his case. When confronted, he didn’t deny it and told officers, “I’ve done the crime, so I’ll have to do the time.”
Despite his entrepreneurial spirit, his side hustle as a cannabis grower landed him a 40-month sentence. Judge Catherine Richards acknowledged that Richards was a heavy cannabis user and a hard-working family man. However, she pointed out that he still chose to go down this path despite having other financial options.
With previous convictions to his name, this wasn’t Richards’ first run-in with the law over cannabis. His legal defence noted that he ran a carpentry business employing three people and was planning to open a café with his wife. However, the sentencing put those plans on hold.
Richards will spend 40% of his sentence in custody before being released on licence, and now faces a financial investigation. Sometimes, even a well-crafted plan can lead you straight to the slammer! 🚔🌿
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