East Yorkshire councillor jailed over drug farm
A parish councillor who boasted an anti-drugs stance in public but in private was helping to run a cannabis farm in East Yorkshire has been jailed.
Flamborough parish councillor Steven Crowther, 57, of Marine Valley, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison at Hull Crown Court.
He was charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis.
Judge Jeremy Richardson QC said Crowther demonstrated "nauseating hypocrisy".
Judge Richardson described it as a "serious crime", adding: "He let his local community down".
Crowther, who has since resigned from the parish council, had portrayed himself as an anti-drugs campaigner before his involvement in running a cannabis farm was exposed last year.
He ran a DIY shop and haulage business, and had previously set up a Youth Committee in the village.
The lock-up where cannabis valued at £7,000 was discovered by police in December 2009 was opposite his business premises.
He originally claimed he had rented the space to a Gypsy, but later pleaded guilty to his part in the cannabis production.