Ex-Royal Marine commando, 32, who set up £19,000 cannabis farm with his pregnant girlfriend, 27, in suburban semi they share with their newborn baby is jailed for a year
- Adam Burtoft, 32, set up cannabis farm with his girlfriend Charlotte Carr, 27
- Former Royal Marine Burtoft was jailed for a year at Minshull Street Crown Court
- Carr was given a year’s jail term suspended for two years and rehabilitation order
A former Royal Marine Commando who grew a cannabis farm at the home he shared with his girlfriend and their baby has been jailed for a year.
Adam Burtoft began using the drug to relieve ‘physical and psychological’ pain from his six years’ service in the military and grew cannabis at his home in Stockport because it was cheaper than paying £200 a week for the drug.
But it turned into a commercial operation and the 32-year-old roped in his partner Charlotte Carr, 27, and her mother Susan to help run the farm in their garage.
Officers estimated they produced up to £19,200 worth of strong skunk cannabis between June 2018 and March 2019.
Adam Burtoft began using the drug to relieve ‘physical and psychological’ pain from his six years’ service in the military and grew cannabis at his home in Stockport
Burtoft roped in his partner Charlotte Carr, 27 and her mother Susan (pictured) to help run the farm in their garage
The electricity had been bypassed and texts suggesting the pair supplied the drug for onward sale were recovered alongside pictures of the plants and a ‘care and grow’ schedule.
Burtoft, who went on to become a recruitment consultant after his military service, admitted cannabis production and was jailed for a year.
Carr admitted the same charge at Minshull Street Crown Court but avoided a prison sentence because she is due to give birth to their second baby in April.
She must instead complete 20 rehabilitation days as part of a year’s jail term suspended for two years.
Susan Carr, 67, was charged with producing cannabis but she died while awaiting trial.
Judge John Edwards told the pair they ‘should be ashamed of themselves’.
He added: ‘This was a sophisticated set-up which was modest in scale but a considerable amount of time, effort and resources were invested in this.
‘This was a family home and you had a young child in that house. There was a risk of fire from bypassing the electricity never mind the cultivation of drugs around a young child. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
‘Mr Burtoft I accept the reason for this growth was to relieve your physical and psychological pain, but you then started a small cottage industry to cover your costs. No doubt much of this ended up on the streets of Stockport.’
He told Carr: ‘I want you to be a mother to them and never do anything like this again. Out of clemency I have adopted a merciful course in your case.’
The electricity had been bypassed and texts suggesting the pair supplied the drug for onward sale were recovered alongside pictures of the plants and a ‘care and grow’ schedule.
Burtoft had a previous conviction from a Croatian court for having drugs at a festival.
His lawyer Andrew Scott said: ‘When he was 18 to 25 he would cycle from England to Gibraltar for charity, but within six months of leaving the Royal Marines he started using cannabis to help him with his injuries and started spending £200 per week on cannabis.
‘When his first child came along he got into financial difficulties but could not stop taking cannabis, and was not earning much money.
‘He has been candid that he still takes cannabis for his injuries and is still a young man, but accepts he must pay for his criminality.’
Burtoft and Carr will face a Proceeds of Crime hearing in August.
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