A man has been jailed after he was caught growing cannabis while on bail for a Huddersfield -based “cash for crash” scam.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Kade Mason was one of 15 people who claimed to have been injured while a passenger on a mini-bus involved in a collision with a Jaguar car in Gloucester on June 1, 2008.
Heather Weir prosecuting told the court four passengers allegedly in the car also claimed compensation leading to the insurance company involved paying out £104,000 before that scam and others unconnected were uncovered.
Mason received £1,900 for his alleged injuries after attending a medical.
She said Mason was on bail when on February 7 last year police went to his then address in Leymoor Road, Golcar with a warrant and found 36 cannabis plants growing.
He had installed ventilation ducting, high powered lights controlled with a timer and a water butt to help in the process. He had also by-passed the electricity costing some £400 in power and a further £488 in repairs.
The plants were about 10 weeks from maturity when it was estimated they might have produced 1.62 kilos of skunk cannabis which would make 450 street deals worth £13,885.
Mason claimed after losing his job he was in difficulty paying his £550 rent in 2012 and had decided to grow the cannabis as a way out of his financial difficulties.
But Miss Weir said the prosecution did not accept he had the debts he claimed because when his bank accounts were checked he was found to have had two credits of several thousands of pounds and been able to buy expensive jewellery that Christmas Eve. He would now be the subject of a proceeds of crime hearing.
She told the court Mason was also on bail on August 24 last year when police officers followed a trail of cannabis to another address where he was then living in Cross Cottages, Marsh.
She said police had received a report from neighbours about a burglary taking place at a house in Waverley Terrace, Marsh saying a number of men had broken in and were carrying away items.
When officers got to the scene they found a cannabis harvest had been stolen and it led them to the address where Marsh was standing at the rear of his property while a large quilt containing 80 cannabis plants three to four weeks from maturity was found inside.
He told officers he had answered a knock on the door and four men were carrying the duvet and told him they would return for it when they got some transport. The Crown accepted Mason had only just received it.
Mason, 23 of Clifton Road, Marsh, Huddersfield was jailed for 18 months after he admitted conspiracy to defraud, production of cannabis, abstracting electricity and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
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