Man jailed after cannabis valued at £22,000 seized by police

Michael Whitehead appeared before Sheffield Crown Court for sentencing after officers from the Barnsley South Neighbourhood Policing Team gained entry to his property on Doncaster Road, Darfield, on May 7, 2021.Whitehead, now of Lister Row, Great Houghton, was charged with cultivation of a Class B drug and appeared before court on Friday (September 29) where he was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Officers, who received intelligence that the Darfield property was being used to grow cannabis, attended the property but Whitehead failed to answer the door.Police used powers to gain entry to the property after suspecting the evidence they could see through the windows would have been removed and destroyed if they left the premises.Sgt Kev Jenkins said: "Once inside, it was clear the electricity had been bypassed, and we found a cultivation, with a total of 22 plants."Each plant has an estimated £1,000 street value – that’s a significant amount of cash in the wrong hands to cause fear and harm."When electricity is bypassed, it poses a huge fire risk to the property and those living nearby.“This was made safe before officers left the scene."Sgt Jenkins added: “We will continue our efforts into disrupting the supply chain and creating safer neighbourhoods.”