Lanarkshire woman told police she was 'forced to grow cannabis'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A woman phoned police to say a man was forcing her to grow cannabis plants at a house in Hamilton.Officers found 27 plants, worth around £5,400, in a bedroom of the Hill Street property.James Ashcroft, of Dunkeld Place, Hamilton, appeared at the town's sheriff court this week.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The 54-year-old admitted producing the Class B drug between April 28, 2020, and June 28 that year.Cheryl Leggate, 35, of Auchinraith Terrace, Blantyre, walked free when her not guilty plea to the same charge was accepted.Alice Carey, prosecuting, said officers went to the property after Leggate phoned them.She told the court: "Leggate met them at the door and let them in."The officers saw 25 medium and two small cannabis plants in a bedroom."Leggate named Ashcroft as being responsible for the cultivation."There were extractor fans in the bedroom and the windows had been blacked out."Ashcroft's fingerprints were found on two fans and duct tape."Sheriff Colin Dunipace called for background reports and deferred sentence on Ashcroft until next month. **Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire.

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