Two sentenced over cannabis farm with plants worth £800,000 found in underground bunkers
Two men caught after cannabis worth up to £800,000 was found in underground bunkers constructed from shipping containers were given suspended jail sentences on Friday (November 21).
Police raided Thorpe Farm at Skendleby, Lincolnshire, on September 3, 2020 after being tipped off by their counterparts in Spain, Lincoln Crown Court heard.
Officers not only found four bunkers made from 12 shipping containers buried 20ft underground, but a number of livestock including 22 horses and a Llama being kept at the farm.
Each of the four bunkers was found to contain a sophisticated cannabis grow. In total there were over 600 cannabis plants with a potential street value of up to £800,000.
The court heard two men, Nathan Allen, 39, and Kyle Robinson, 33, were found living on the farm. A shotgun attributed to Allen was also recovered.
Allen, of Werrington Bridge Road, Peterborough, was sentenced on Friday to two years imprisonment suspended for two years after he admitted conspiracy to produce and supply cannabis and possession of a firearm without a certificate.
Allen, who also admitted breaching a suspended sentence, must also complete 160 hours of unpaid work and 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Robinson, 33, of Willoughby Road, Alford, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis. He must also complete 160 hours of unpaid work.
A third man will be sentenced for his involvement on December 15.
The court heard Robinson had pleaded guilty on a basis that he was initially employed to look after the animals on the farm and then switched to security of the grow but never entered the bunkers.
Allen admitted playing a limited role in the grow because of a debt but said he only entered one bunker where he took a "selfie."
Lincolnshire Police spent eight days searching the site after it was tipped off by the Guardia Civil that a drug operation was taking place at the farm.
After discovering the entrances hidden in barns, officers found the four underground bunkers, the court was told.
Inside 12 containers used to make up the bunkers officers found over 600 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of up to £800,000.
Neil Sands, mitigating for Allen, said he obviously had no influence on those higher up the chain.
Mr Sands told the court Allen had already spent nearly four months in jail.
In mitigation the court was told Robinson had five children and had completely changed his life around since his limited involvement.
Passing sentence Recorder Simon King accepted a considerable period of time had passed since the discovery of the grow and that Robinson was now a "changed man."
Recorder King told Allen he had admitted a greater involvement than Robinson but could avoid an immediate jail sentence by the "skin of his teeth."
Back in 2020, Lincolnshire Police said officers on the farm raid used drones and a dog unit in their search.
Detective Superintendent Rick Hatton from Lincolnshire Police said at the time: “We are extremely grateful to our counterparts in Spain and our partners for assisting with the exploration of this site.
“With the operation being underground we have needed some real specialist support to uncover this activity. Only with the skills of those who joined us from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue the Environment Agency, East Lindsey District Council, RSPCA (England & Wales) and the Home Office's Department for Science & Technology Laboratory have we been able to get to this point.”