Telford man grew £32,000 worth of cannabis secretly in parents' shed

Zach Anthony Latham told officers who visited his home with a search warrant: "It's all in the shed".

Police found 26 plants with a potential value of £32,000 at Latham's home in School Road, Madeley, Telford.

The 24-year-old later told police that his parents were completely unaware that he was using the family's shed to grow the plants in three separate tents.

Latham yesterday pleaded guilty to producing the plants. But he walked away from Telford Magistrates Court with a £55 fine and court costs.

Mrs Abigail Hall, prosecuting, said that officers had visited Latham's home with a search warrant on February 10.

She said police had examined the defendant's mobile phone and had found no evidence that he was involved in dealing.

Latham had told police the plants were for his own use as it was easier and cheaper to grow cannabis than to buy it, she added.

He said his parents had had no idea of the operation in the shed and that he had told them their high electricity bills were down to his heavy use of electronic equipment.

Mr Steven Meredith, for Latham, said the defendant had fully co-operated with police. "There was no financial gain, it was all for personal use," he said.

He added that many of the plants seized had been cuttings that may not have produced plants with THC – the active part of cannabis.

A spokeswoman for the probation service said Latham, who is currently unemployed, was smoking £20 of cannabis a day.