Man jailed for cannabis factory

A man has been jailed in connection with a massive cannabis factory in an abandoned warehouse.
Inside the cannabis factory in SandyInside the cannabis factory in Sandy
Inside the cannabis factory in Sandy

Stewart Bloomfield was jailed for three years after being found guilty of producing cannabis.

He will serve a further eight months for purchasing a shotgun without a licence.

The sentence comes after the factory was discovered in Sandy in February 2012, making front page news in the Chronicle.

More than 3,000 plants were being grown and cultivated at the factory, which was closed down by Bedfordshire Police.

The warehouse at Stockton End contained a large, complex cannabis factory with sophisticated lighting and hydration systems, 
allowing for huge amounts of cannabis to be grown and sold.

Police also discovered a shotgun and cartridges, both used and unused.

A Bedfordshire Police spokesperson said: “We are pleased that justice has been done and we hope that this sentence will discourage others from carrying out similar offences.”

Detective Constable Richard Adams who led the investigation at the time, described the operation as ‘meticulously planned’.

Officers arrived at the scene at Stockton End after receiving a report of suspicious activity.

Det Con Adams said at the time: “It is fair to say that cannabis cultivation in Bedfordshire has been seriously disrupted by this latest discovery.”