A young nursery nurse’s career is in doubt after she allowed her boyfriend to grow cannabis in her Paddock home.
Jade Reilly, 19, was suspended after police told her employer that she had been charged over a drug-related offence.
She appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court today where she pleaded guilty to permitting the production of a Class B drug.
Her boyfriend, Kyle Sylvester, admitted producing and possessing cannabis.
The Huddersfield court heard that police broke into the address in Church Street at 8.30am on April 20.
They were looking for Sylvester, 24, and thought he might be with Reilly.
Rory Byrne, prosecuting, said: “There was no reply but they could hear noise inside and forced entry. They found a small set up of growing cannabis under the boiler area.
“During a further search they found 15 small clear bags of cannabis in the kitchen in a tub.”
Police seized the 10 cannabis plants and growing equipment as well as the bags of cannabis Sylvester said he’d paid £90 for.
Mike Sisson-Pell, mitigating, said that before the offence Reilly was working as a nursery nurse.
She had trained at college and the nursery for three years and just passed all her exams.
Mr Sisson-Pell said: “She was looking forward to a very nice and bright career.
“As a result of being arrested police wrote to her employers suggesting that she was working with children and this was an ideal opportunity to supply drugs.
Take a look at cannabis factories found in Huddersfield below.
“The children she was working with were newborn to three and there’s no indication she would have done this.
“She’s been suspended since she very foolishly allowed him (Sylvester) to grow cannabis for his personal use.
“She gave into affection for her boyfriend. It’s a shame if all the hard work she’s done up until now will be lost.
The court heard that Sylvester, of Quaker Lane in Paddock, has been using cannabis recreationally over the last few years.
Mr Sisson-Pell said: “As he didn’t want to associate with drug dealers he decided it would be better if he grew his own cannabis.
“He’s involved his girlfriend and bitterly regrets that and knows the impact he’s had on her.”
A probation report was ordered on Sylvester before his sentencing.
District Judge Michael Fanning told Reilly: “I do hope this is not going to impact on your career but that’s the risk you run in getting involved in a criminal activity.”
He fined her £100 and ordered her to pay £180 court charge, £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.
The seized drugs will be forfeited and destroyed.
