[dropcap type=”circle”]A[/dropcap] 38 year old man who ran a cannabis farm in a Pensby Road flat above Nova restaurant has been jailed for four years and four months having been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter in Liscard.
Ian Kennedy, of Mosslands Drive, Wallasey, pleaded guilty to the offence, together with a charge of cannabis production and abstracting electricity.
Merseyside Police has release footage shot when the Pensby Road flat was entered.
Kennedy had been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following an investigation into a fire in Penkett Road, Liscard, on Friday 14th August 2015 when two men and a woman were treated for smoke inhalation.
One of the men, 63-year-old Joseph Vaughan-Jones, died as a result of injuries sustained through the fire.
Merseyside Police uncovered evidence that the room where the fire started had been used as a ‘growing room’ and the prosecution case was that Kennedy was responsible for the growing operation.
An investigation into the cause of the fire by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service concluded that it had started after a heat lamp had fallen onto a carpet.
Exactly one year to the day – in August 2016 – police officers were called to a flat on Pensby Road, Heswall, following reports of a smell of cannabis. When they arrived at the property Ian Kennedy was in attendance. Fourteen mature cannabis plants together with associated growing equipment were discovered in the flat.
Kennedy later pleaded guilty to cannabis production and abstracting electricity.
Detective Inspector Paul Parry said: “This was a totally unique and complex case.
“By his actions Ian Kennedy showed shocking disregard for the people – including two young children – who were living in the house in Penkett Road, Liscard.
“Joseph Vaughan-Jones died as a result of injuries he sustained through a fire. It is only by sheer good fortune that nobody else was seriously hurt and that the fire was prevented from spreading to neighbouring properties and putting other people in danger.
“Growing cannabis is not a victimless or low level crime and Merseyside Police is committed to bringing the people responsible to justice.
“I would urge members of the public to look out for the signs that a cannabis farm is being grown in the area and contact us to prevent any further tragedies like this from happening.”
Signs that a cannabis farm may be in your area include:
- Strange smells and sounds
- Frequent/varied visitors to a property, often at unusual times Gardening equipment being taken into a property, such as plant pots, fertiliser, fans and industrial lighting
- Windows are sealed and covered or the curtains are permanently closed
- Heat from an adjoining property
- Birds gathering on a roof in cold weather
- Individually these activities may seem commonplace, however, together may indicate something more sinister
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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