12:24pm Thursday 27th November 2008
By Nigel Freedman
A pensioner faces prison for helping turn his son’s farmhouse into a drugs factory.
Brian Bayes, 68, has been warned by Judge Charles Kemp he could be jailed for helping to produce the cannabis plants in a former cowshed at the farmhouse home of his son, Daniel.
Bayes was yesterday convicted by a jury following a trial at Lewes Crown Court.
His wife Sandra, 64, faced the same charges but they were dismissed due to lack of evidence.
The court was told the couple were arrested after police discovered the cannabis factory by chance as they manned a cordon after the fatal fire at Festival Fireworks, now known as Alpha Fireworks, at Shortgate, Lewes.
Two firefighters died in the blaze in December 2006.
The police traced the distinctive smell to a barn nearby at Lower House Farm, Laughton, where they found about 200 plants growing.
Mr and Mrs Bayes, who have four children, were staying at the house while their son was away travelling.
The couple, who ran the Dinkum pub at Polegate before they retired, both claimed they knew nothing about the cannabis, which was being grown with the aid of a sophisticated system of lights, heat and fertiliser.
They said they had only been staying at the former farm for about ten days and had not been in the barn.
Brian Bayes told police his wife would not know the difference between cannabis and chewing gum.
But the jury was told his fingerprints were found on a document in the barn and his DNA was discovered on a cigarette butt in a plastic bag of rubbish.
When police investigated the couple’s bank accounts they found that between 2004 and 2006 they had paid more than £215,000 into various accounts. Sums of up to £10,000 had been deposited in cash.
When asked where the money came from, Bayes told police he bought and sold antiques and cars for profit.
Their son has not been able to be traced by police. It is believed he is still travelling in South America.
The jury was told Daniel, who works in computers, had once been suspended from school when he was a pupil at St Bede’s in Upper Dicker after he and a friend were caught with cannabis. Bayes was convicted of producing cannabis, money laundering £77,648 from the sale of the drug and possessing criminal property, the money from the proceeds of drugs.
Judge Kemp released Bayes on bail until January 9 when he will be sentenced but warned him it was likely he would be jailed.
He said: “If this enterprise was initiated by Daniel Bayes the time that elapses between now and the sentence date would be the time for him to put in an appearance and explanation as to why he left his parents exposed to this risk . That is if he has the slightest decency or compassion.”
He told Bayes: “I take the view this enterprise was not started by yourself but you entered into it and played your part in it.
“It is a matter for your son’s conscience, not yours.
“To expose his parents like this is monstrous.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theargus.co.uk