A BARNSLEY man who was jailed for five years for cannabis cultivation has had his sentence reduced.
Mark Smith, of Town End, was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court after being convicted of conspiracy to produce cannabis in April.
However, he challenged the length of the sentence imposed and has had it reduced by a year.
The 27-year-old, who owned several buy-to-let properties, used three houses for cultivating cannabis while maintaining a facade of good citizenship by setting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme on the estate where he lived.
The Court of Appeal heard that, as well as his own house, Smith owned three other properties, one of which, in Wakefield Road, was 'wholly given over to the production of cannabis'.
Police found £116,000 worth of the drug drying in the house, while smaller amounts were uncovered in his other two properties.
Mrs Justice Swift said: "He and his partner were responsible for setting up the Neighbourhood Watch scheme on the estate where he lived.
"His references contrast starkly with the criminal conduct he committed. This was a cannabis factory with sophisticated hydroponics systems.
"His crimes were aggravated by the fact he told police the house was let to a man who turned out to be fictitious."
