Coventry man jailed for cannabis factory and intimidating witness - after judge called his bluff

[dutchman]

A Coventry man has been jailed for producing cannabis worth £26,000 and witness intimidation – after a judge called his bluff



Ryan Jones claimed in court he had sent the witness a message apologising for threatening the young woman who had made a complaint about his brother.

But the judge called his bluff and, after an adjournment for that to be checked, it was found that no apology had been sent by Ryan Jones, who was on bail for growing cannabis at the time.

Jones (25) of Ellerman Gardens, Longford, Coventry, was jailed for two years at Warwick Crown Court after pleading guilty to producing the cannabis (a six month sentence) and the witness intimidation (a consecutive 18-month sentence).

Recorder Butterworth told him: “The production of cannabis was a significant commercial operation. The yield was substantial, and there was professional equipment installed.

“You were on bail for that offence when this year you committed an offence which is significantly more serious, in my judgement, because it strikes so hard at the proper administration of justice.

“While it may have been impulsive at the start, it was a series of acts by you.

“You then sought to suggest you had apologised in subsequent text messages – but in my view that was a bluff, and your bluff was called and what was discovered were further text messages which were not so intimidatory, but there was no apology.

“It was a determination to intimidate this girl.”

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[rebbonk]

A rare outbreak of common sense from the judiciary, although I think it was a rather lenient sentence.