• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

    Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

    Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

    Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

    Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

    Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

    Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

    Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

    Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

    Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

    Sheep breeder’s successful debut at Royal Highland Show

    Sheep breeder’s successful debut at Royal Highland Show

    Global engineering firm Babcock supports Eden charity

    Global engineering firm Babcock supports Eden charity

  • Sport
    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

    Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

    Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

    Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

    Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

    Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

    Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

    Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

    Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

    Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

    Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

    Sheep breeder’s successful debut at Royal Highland Show

    Sheep breeder’s successful debut at Royal Highland Show

    Global engineering firm Babcock supports Eden charity

    Global engineering firm Babcock supports Eden charity

  • Sport
    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Former Eden police constable ran ‘professional’ cannabis factory near school

by CWH
14 July 2021
in News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
A former police constable ran a “professional” cannabis factory protected by strategically placed weapons from his Eden village home near a school, Carlisle Crown Court heard.
Carlisle Crown Court

A former police constable ran a “professional” cannabis factory protected by strategically placed weapons from his Eden village home near a school, a court has heard.

David Allen, 68, was caught after police received reports of a strong smell of the illegal drug emanating from a farm just 100 metres away from a primary school at Calthwaite, near Penrith.

Detectives went to the small holding, on July 20 last year and discovered Allen — a former PC attached to the Northumbria force during the 1990s — had been involved in the “continuous commercial production of cannabis at the property”.

A search revealed a “professional grow” of 80 plants using high-end equipment designed to maximise yield. The plants were nearing full maturity, and contained within a fully insulated room complete with sophisticated timed lamps, heaters and a working industrial ventilation system. Next to that was a substantial drying area including a large, insulated tent, drying racks and vacuum-packing machinery, along with empty fertiliser containers.

Seven crops could have been produced during a 140-week period, it was estimated, potentially yielding 42kg of cannabis with a possible wholesale value of up to £336,000.

Prosecutor Alaric Walmsley told Carlisle Crown Court yesterday: “A search of the defendant’s farmhouse revealed further equipment and packaging for the cannabis; notes and manuals of how to grow cannabis and operate the machinery; cash; and weapons — knives, a crossbow and air rifles in strategic positions ready to protect the cannabis farm.”

One detective described the operation as “one of the most carefully constructed and sophisticated set-ups he had ever seen”.

After being released while under investigation by police, Allen was said to have made “arrangements to leave the country”, telling an estate agent in November he was “packing” and “off to retire in the sunshine”, mentioning “Asia” and suggesting he would not be coming back.

“In addition, a financial investigation of the defendant’s personal and business accounts identified unexplained cash deposits totalling over £425,000, together with regular transfers of money to a woman in the Philippines,” added Mr Walmsley. Two passports handed over by Allen to police featured different dates of birth.

He was arrested, remanded in custody and admitted both cannabis production and possession of criminal cash.

After hearing a prosecution opening of the case, the judge, Miss Recorder Kate Bex QC, adjourned the case for Allen’s barrister to fully prepare his submissions overnight. The hearing is due to resume and conclude later today.

Related Posts

Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme
Latest

Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

8 July 2025
Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers
Latest

Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

7 July 2025
Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone
Latest

Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

7 July 2025
Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre
Latest

Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

6 July 2025
Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?
Expert advice

Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

6 July 2025
Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park
News

Man fined £100 for using cashpoint in car park

4 July 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

Honour for man who devoted his life to Greystoke

4 July 2025
Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

Changes to lease accounting – how will this impact your financial statements?

6 July 2025
Memory lane – a look at the Herald’s archive photos

Memory lane – a look at the Herald’s archive photos

4 July 2025
Penrith Lions mark 50 years of serving community

Penrith Lions mark 50 years of serving community

4 July 2025
£8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

£8,000 for two new nature reserve projects

3 July 2025
Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

7 July 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald