A Hornchurch man has been sentenced after police uncovered a large-scale cannabis growing operation used to fund mortgage overpayments and repay a drug debt.
David Haynes, of Nelwyn Avenue, cultivated nearly £70,000 worth of cannabis plants in an outbuilding on a property he owned in South End Road, Essex. The property itself was rented out, but the outbuilding had been converted into a sophisticated drug production site.
Haynes was arrested on January 22, following a police warrant executed at the location. Officers discovered almost 6,000 cannabis saplings in one room and 122 mature plants in another, alongside equipment including air circulation fans, oil-filled radiators, lighting units worth over £1,000, and reflective insulation boards.
A drug expert witness valued the production at just under £70,000, citing evidence that the larger plants were being used to take cuttings and grow new ones—indicating an ongoing operation.
Investigations revealed that Haynes had made substantial overpayments into his mortgage account, including £58,000 in December 2023 and a further £38,000 across two payments in the previous year. He told police the cannabis operation was an attempt to settle a drug debt.
Haynes was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to cannabis production. As part of his sentence, he must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and comply with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Detective Constable Megan Tighe, who led the investigation, said:
“This was a very sophisticated set-up, clearly well-established. It was evident that Haynes was cultivating cannabis on a commercial scale, and the financial records show a suspicious correlation between the drug operation and his mortgage overpayments.
“Drugs are a menace to society, and we won’t stand by while cannabis grown in operations like this ends up on the streets, where it can cause harm within our communities.”
Police continue to target illegal drug production across the region and are urging anyone with suspicions of similar activity in their area to report it.
