It was a ‘sophisticated set-up’ in his loft, a court heard
Adrian Jelinski has been jailed(Image: Humberside Police)
A drug dealer made a “monumentally stupid” mistake when he got involved in “growing, selling and profiteering from” cannabis. Police found cannabis being grown in his loft and they later caught him meeting a woman in the street for what looked like a drugs exchange, Hull Crown Court heard.
Adrian Jelinski, 45, of Mayville Avenue, off Stoneferry Road, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted producing cannabis, being concerned in producing cannabis and possessing cash as criminal property on June 24. He also admitted having no insurance and no driving licence.
Maleka Akuany, prosecuting, said that police went to Jelinski’s home in Mayville Avenue to execute a drugs warrant and found two bedrooms set up for growing cannabis. There was plastic sheeting around walls to block out natural light as well as heat lamps, transformers, ventilation piping and plastic piping containing green herbal plants.
“The loft had also been adapted to grow cannabis,” said Miss Akuany. “The electrics had been bypassed.” More than £1,000 cash was found and a mobile phone was seized.
There were 38 cannabis plants at the house. On September 11, police were travelling along Cranbourne Street, west Hull, when they became aware of a BMW car pulling up near a woman who was suspected of being a drug user.
“She walked up to the driver’s side window where there was a brief verbal exchange,” said Miss Akuany. Police did not see any hand-to-hand exchange because their view was blocked.
They followed the car down Albany Street and checked the registration number. It was discovered that the car was linked to drug supply and that Jelinski was known.
He had no insurance or driving licence. The car was stopped. A snap bag of cannabis was found in the glove compartment. He had £620 cash on him.
Messages on his mobile phone indicated an involvement in supplying cannabis. The cannabis weighed about 36g, with a street value of about £300.
During police interview, Jelinski made no comment to questions. He had no previous convictions but he had a caution for an unrelated matter.
Ben Hammersley, mitigating, said that Jelinski pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. “This is his first significant brush with the law and it has been his first experience of custody,” said Mr Hammersley.
“He has described this last month as being the worst of his life. He has expressed genuine remorse and regret for what he has done.
“This is a monumentally stupid thing that this defendant did and he wishes to apologise again for his actions.” Jelinski, from Poland, had been in this country since 2014 and he had settled status. He had been working for about nine years.
Recorder Nathan Moxon told Jelinski: “You were growing, selling and profiteering from cannabis supply,” said Recorder Moxon. “This was your own operation for which you were expecting financial reward.
“There was no suggestion that you were directing others. It was a sophisticated set-up in your loft. Drugs and drug dealing have a devastating effect on individuals and communities.”
Jelinski was jailed for two years and four months and he was banned from driving for 14 months. The £1,000 and £620 cash seized will be forfeited and given to the St Paul’s boxing club charity, Hull.
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