that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Beauty therapist caught with cannabis farm in her basement avoids jail after claiming it was put there by gangsters without her permission
- Olivia Corris, 22, said she returned to her flat after a night out to find drugs
- Claims she was threatened to care for them or her family would be harmed
- Arrested after police stormed flat and found £45,000 worth of strong skunk
- She was given an eight month prison sentence suspended for 12 months
By
Gemma Mullin for MailOnline
Published: 04:09 EST, 18 June 2015 | Updated: 05:51 EST, 18 June 2015
Olivia Corris, 22, pictured outside Manchester Magistrates Court at a previous hearing, claims she returned home to find gangsters had left a cannabis farm in her basement
A beauty therapist who was caught growing a cannabis farm in her basement has avoided jail after she claimed it was put there by gangsters without her knowledge.
Olivia Corris, 22, said she had been out with friends when she returned to her flat in Stockport, Greater Manchester, to find 44 super strength 'skunk' plants had been left in her home.
There was also a note with instructions saying she should feed and water them otherwise her family might be harmed, a court heard.
Corris claims she agreed to look after the plantation, even though she insisted she had never smoked the drug, in fear of reprisals.
But the former O2 telesales worker was arrested after officers burst into her home and found the maturing plants, aided by a sophisticated hydroponic system and five heat lamps.
The yield had a potential to flood the streets with up to 2.26kg of potent skunk - which could have fetched £45,200 if it was sold for the right price.
At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Corris admitted producing cannabis but claimed she was said to have exploited by a more 'criminally-minded' group.
She told the court they preyed on the fact she lived alone after leaving her parents' home in the Cheshire suburb of Bowdon, near Altrincham.
In a statement she said: 'I challenged them and I was told in no uncertain terms that the farm was staying.
'I accept matters progressed to the extent that the owners of the farm told me to feed the plants and control the lighting and I did so.
'It was never suggested I would receive any gain if it was successful.'
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