A GANG responsible for growing thousands of cannabis plants and conspiring to deal them on an “industrial scale” has been jailed.
Blackpool man Aaron Dickinson, of Withnell Road, is one of six who have been jailed after police found almost 2,000 plants being grown at addresses in Yorkshire.
And the 25-year-old will now serve four and a half years behind bars for his part in the conspiracy to cultivate and distribute the drug.
The massive drug operation was discovered after officers raided 16 addresses in Blackpool, Leeds, Heckmondwike and Houghton-Le-Springs between August 11 and September 20 last year and recovered almost 2,000 cannabis plants.
They had an estimated street value of £630,000.
Officers discovered 1,350 of the plants being grown in Heckmondike and a further 600 at a property in Armley, along with hypodronic equipment used to cultivate the plants.
Det Insp Warren Stevenson, of West Yorkshire Police’s crime division, said: “These men created a network to allow for the cultivation and distribution of cannabis on an industrial scale.
“Each member of the gang had their own individual role to play as they carried out this illegal enterprise in order to make a substantial amount of money for their own personal gains.
“Police will continue to mount operations such as these to remove those who think they are above the law and bring misery to local communities through drugs and other associated crimes.”
All the men were charged with conspiracy to cultivate cannabis and Adrian Dickinson, 34, from Headingley, Leeds, was jailed for six years, 31-year-old James Weaver from Rodley, Leeds, was locked up for two years, David Graham, 26, from Cottingley Drive, Leeds, was sentenced to five years three months, 32-year-old Carl Garrity, of Temple Newsam, Leeds, was given a two year three month jail term and 37-year-old John Newman, of Meanwood, Leeds, received four years and three months.
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