'Stupid' man agreed to cultivate cannabis factory after being ‘offered £500’ by travellers

‘Stupid’ Robert Bourne, 39, landed himself an appearance at Portsmouth Crown Court after striking a deal to look after 31 cannabis plants for a group of mysterious men.

Armed with drug paraphernalia – including soil, fertiliser, lighting, fans and hoses – Bourne diligently harvested the plants for up to three weeks at an address in The Millers, Bognor Regis, before he was caught by police on June 19.

To compound matters for hard-up Bourne, who only took on the job to earn some money, he never received any payment for his efforts.

Bourne’s decision to cultivate the cannabis also proved to be an unhappy experience for his partner Simone Pearce, 26, who was also caught red-handed at the property with her boyfriend.

The court heard drugs seized by police had an estimated value of up to around £26,000 with incriminating messages found on the phones of both Bourne and Pearce.

‘There were multiple pictures found on Mr Bourne’s phone of cannabis and he was also offering advice on how to set up a grow site,’ prosecutor Victoria Hill said.

Michael Mason, defending Bourne, said: ‘The defendant said Pikies offered him £500 to look after the cannabis plants and to help with everything in the flat.’

When police attempted to track the men behind the cannabis factory down, the property owner said the flat had been rented by men who it transpired had given false details.

Recorder Hannah Wilcox told Bourne: ‘You did it because you were desperate for money and were offered £500. You admitted it was stupid.’

Bourne and Pearce both admitted a single charge of producing cannabis.

Bourne, of The Esplanade, Bognor Regis, was sentenced to 15 weeks’ jail suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 12 rehabilitation days.

Pearce, of Felpham Road, was given a 12-month community order where she was told to undertake eight rehabilitation days and pay a £200 fine.