A FATHER has been jailed for hosting a £16,000 cannabis farm in a home with his two children.

Dean Tarry, 34, appeared in Liverpool Crown Court, March 4, after having pleaded guilty for production of cannabis and possession of an offensive weapon.

Police attended an address in Birchwood, with Tarry running off when they arrived. After investigating the property, a marijuana farm was found upstairs.

17 cannabis plants were recovered, worth a combined value of up to £16,800. As well as this, an extendable baton was found.

When police attended, Tarry’s partner at the time two of his children were at the property. The two children had been living in the property where Tarry was growing the marijuana.

A phone was also found with text messages implying the defendant in the purchase and sale of the drugs.

Prosecuting, Iain Criddle told the court how the 34-year-old had been pressured to start the farm due to growing drug debts.

Mr Criddle went on to point to Tarry’s extensive criminal record. The defendant has 52 previous convictions for 81 different offences dating back to 2004, with five of these convictions being drug related.

It was also stressed that he has a poor record of complying with court orders.

Defending Tarry, Paul Becker told the court that the defendant had accrued the debts due in part to his bout with cancer. Tarry went through chemotherapy to overcome the disease, using cannabis to cope with the treatment. As a result, he became addicted, and went on to use both cannabis and cocaine.

The 34-year-old, who now lives on Saxby Avenue in Bolton, read a letter to the court, stressing he was a changed man, and that he had ‘six beautiful children who he is addicted to’.

He also said: “I can honestly say I am too old for this lifestyle. Prison will not help me.”

Mr Becker went on to state that Tarry had debts of £1,800 and had been told if he started the cannabis grow his debts would be cleared and he would be allowed to keep five of the 17 plants.

The defence barrister finished by stating: “Prison would send him back to square one.”

Presiding, Recorder Kendrick Horne ultimately decided against Tarry’s pleas to not return to prison.

Recorder Horne stated: “The offence was aggravated by a number of factors.

“Firstly, your signification previous criminal record is a clear factor.”

He went on to state that the fact that children were in the home placed them in danger, both due to the dangerous chemicals and the risk of people breaking in to steal the plants.

He recognised the 34-year-old had overcome cancer, however, due to his poor previous compliance with court orders decided he could not suspend the sentence.

The father-of-six was given a six month custodial sentence.

Tarry was emotional when being led to prison, sharing an embrace with his sister, then punching a wall and yelling in frustration.