Community service for cousins caught cultivating cannabis 

Men must do unpaid work

Two cousins from Douglas have been ordered to carry out unpaid work after being caught cultivating cannabis.

Carl Francis Kelch, of Clarence Terrace, will spend 100 hours doing work for the benefit of the community whilst Michael John Kewley, of Farvane Close, will do 180.

Kelch, who is 33, was caught growing six plants, at the home of Kewley, on 31 March – their potential yield was said to be between £2,800 and £8,400.

Kewley, who is 41, admitted cultivating cannabis on or about 23 May; the court heard police had searched his home again and found eight cannabis plants with a potential yield of up to £15,120.

Kewley’s advocate described his client's offending as ‘stupid and naïve’ adding: “There was an extreme lack of sophistication in this case.”

Both men were also ordered to pay prosecution costs and Kelch will also be subject to a two-year probation order.