Drug dealer grew £27,000 of cannabis to fund vasectomy reversal operation (From Southend Standard)
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Canvey drug dealer grew £27,000 of cannabis to fund vasectomy reversal operation
1:00pm Friday 1st March 2013 in Echo News By David Trayner
A DRUG dealer grew £27,000 of cannabis to fund a vasectomy reversal operation, but was busted by police.
Christopher Magee, 41, grew the drug at his bungalow in Southfalls Road, Canvey, which he shared with his girlfriend Amy Gray, 24.
Yesterday at Basildon Crown Court he was jailed for 21 months after police found 16 cannabis plants and 1.72 kilograms of the drug bagged up and ready for sale.
Magee said he started the "commercial operation" so he could get married and start a family with Gray, who has already been given a 12-month community order for letting him grow the drug.
Paul Vickers, mitigating, said: "He put himself in the position because he wanted to have children with his new partner.
"He had a vasectomy when he was 26 and it cannot be reversed on the NHS.
"He was trying to raise the funds to pay for that."
Police uncovered two black tents filled with hydroponic equipment and enough plants to produce 795 grams of skunk cannabis and 69 bags of the drug ready for sale when they raided the property on April 18 last year.
They also found digital scales, an invoice book and a mobile telephone with messages indicating Magee was dealing.
Magee, who has previously been jailed for possession of amphetamines with intent to supply and possessing cocaine, is thought to have made as much as £20,000 from the factory, but had no money for the court to confiscate.
Stephen Rose, prosecuting, said: "This was a commercial operation that was on the face of it being organised and run from the address and a telephone accessed by the defendant."
Judge Jonathan Black, sentencing, said: "It's quite clear you were motivated by financial gain and advantage but the total amount gained was not substantial."
Magee admitted producing and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.
The short, stocky defendant, who had a shaved head and was wearing a grey suit, cried as he was sentenced and mouthed the words: "I love you," to Gray before he was taken away.
Comments(18)
DogsMessInLeigh
says...
1:13pm Fri 1 Mar 13
0 or less..? could be snip at £3000.
Bosniavet
says...
1:27pm Fri 1 Mar 13
DogsMessInLeigh wrote:Certainly not in excess of £20k, I think he was being a bit hopeful using that as mitigation.
How much are vasectomy reversals now-a-days.....£500 0 or less..? could be snip at £3000.
babybird0404
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1:31pm Fri 1 Mar 13
apapa palm
says...
1:36pm Fri 1 Mar 13
everyoneh850
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1:49pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Nebs
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2:31pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Biker One
says...
3:42pm Fri 1 Mar 13
leighman
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3:44pm Fri 1 Mar 13
firedog
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4:32pm Fri 1 Mar 13
apapa palm wrote:Have you seen her?Could be a real dog.
If she needs a donor . I don't mind
asbo in a coma
says...
5:05pm Fri 1 Mar 13
stonybrig
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6:39pm Fri 1 Mar 13
supermadmax
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9:25am Sat 2 Mar 13
Cosmo Spring
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11:32am Sat 2 Mar 13
supermadmax wrote:he should have gone on deal or no deal for the money....
They should have charged his girlfriend aswell, surely it was a joint enterprise.
antoniocaymenislands
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12:14pm Sat 2 Mar 13
perini
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10:43am Mon 4 Mar 13
tony 64
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11:34am Thu 7 Mar 13
tony 64
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11:43am Thu 7 Mar 13
Cosmo Spring says...
1:11pm Fri 1 Mar 13