Man appears in court over this '£500,000' Hartlepool cannabis farm discovered after police tip-off

An alleged cannabis farmer arrested over a haul in Hartlepool worth almost £500,000 has appeared in court.
By Mark Payne
Published 20th Dec 2020, 07:00 BST
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Hao Han, 32, pleaded not guilty to production of a controlled class B drug when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday (December 17).

He was arrested and charged following the discovery of a large cannabis farm discovered at a property on Raby Road, Hartlepool, on Wednesday, November 18.

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It contained 500 plants which Cleveland Police said had a value of about half a million pounds.

A Cleveland Police photograph of the cannabis farm discovered in Raby Road, Hartlepool, on November 18.A Cleveland Police photograph of the cannabis farm discovered in Raby Road, Hartlepool, on November 18.
A Cleveland Police photograph of the cannabis farm discovered in Raby Road, Hartlepool, on November 18.

Han appeared over a videolink from Durham Prison where he is being held on remand.

His lawyer Alex Bousfield said Han claims he did not know the plants were cannabis.

A trial set to last up to two days has been fixed for May 4 next year.

Han, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody.

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Judge Stephen Ashurst said: “You will be produced for your trial on May 4 next year.

"If you change your plea the case can be brought forward.”

As the hearing finished, Han said to the court through an interpreter: “I wish everybody good health.”

The Mail reported last month how the plants were discovered after members of the local community reported suspicions to police.

Neighbourhood Inspector Martin Skirving-Chehab said at the time: “This haul of drugs will no longer make it onto the town’s streets and one male is currently in police custody.”

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He added it showed the public police would act on information they receive about drugs activity in the town.

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