Man told police he was growing bananas when they found cannabis at his Macclesfield home

A man who invited police into his home tried to pass off a cannabis farm as banana plants, a court heard.

David Massey, 54, asked police to his house on Pleasant Street, Macclesfield, to discuss security issues, a sentencing hearing at Chester Crown Court heard.

But the attending officer became suspicious when one of the bedrooms was locked.

And after forcing his way into the room, discovered a cannabis farm growing in two cupboards.

Prosecuting, Joanne Maxwell said: “The officer was asked to attend by the defendant in relation to security issues at the address on Pleasant Street.

“The defendant told him he smoked cannabis recreationally while at home. The officer made a search of the premises as asked by Massey in relation to the security of his windows.

“All rooms were accessible apart from one bedroom at the top of the stairs which had been locked.

“The defendant said there was nothing in the bedroom but the officer opened the door and found two cupboards with cannabis. When he was asked what they were he said ‘my banana plants’.”

The court heard there were 21 seedlings and six mature plants of around 40cm, in the haul on October 23, 2014.

Massey pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis after pleading not guilty at an earlier hearing.

Representing himself, Massey told the court he was growing the drug for his own use and prosecutors accepted the guilty plea on that basis.

Massey, who denied claiming they were banana plants, told Judge Nicholas Woodward he didn’t agree with everything in the pre-sentence report done on his behalf.

He said: “I didn’t say anything about banana plants. I said they were cannabis plants. I can’t say anything else, I have admitted my guilt.”

The court heard he has two previous convictions for cannabis possession and one for cultivation.

Sentencing Massey, Judge Woodward said: “You are a man of firm convictions. You take the view that life should revolve around what you think rather than what other people think.”

Massey was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £250 costs.