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Norfolk man jailed after growing cannabis to cope with cancer
Mark Ayres, 71, has been jailed for three and a half years after growing and selling cannabis from his home in Attleborough, Norfolk. He began researching cannabis for medicinal use after a cancer diagnosis, but prosecutors said the operation expanded into a significant farm and supply business.
Police found 25 plants and 5.7 kilograms of dried cannabis, estimated to be worth £46,000, during a raid on 20 May last year. Ayres admitted producing cannabis and possessing it with intent to supply; his wife Marion, 70, admitted a limited role in production and received a nine-month sentence suspended for 12 months. The court heard the operation grew from eight plants, and that Ayres’s cancer had returned in 2023.
In short
- Mark Ayres was jailed for growing and selling cannabis.
- Police found 25 plants and £46,000 worth of dried cannabis.
- His wife received a suspended sentence for her role.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The sentence reflects the seriousness of producing and supplying a substantial quantity of an illegal drug, which can expose others to health risks and support an unregulated market. A custodial term may also uphold the law and deter similar operations, even where the offender says he began growing cannabis for medical reasons.
The case against
Ayres’s cancer diagnosis and its return may help explain why he sought cannabis, and a prison sentence at 71 could be seen as a harsh response to conduct that began with a health need. Those arguing for a more lenient outcome might favour treatment, a community sentence or regulated access to medicinal cannabis, while still recognising the court’s concerns about the scale and supply activity.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Husband who turned £1million rural home into a cannabis farm after he started using drug to self-medicate his cancer is jailed”.