TWO men admitted breaking into a house and stealing six cannabis plants.
Carl Hone, 26, of Newport Road, Cwmcarn, entered a house on Quantock Drive, Risca, with his friend Kevin Butcher, 38, of Llanfach Road, Abercarn on October 31, Caerphilly magistrates heard.
Ruth Hale, prosecuting, said the victim had erected a tent in which the defendants knew he was cultivating cannabis plants. When they knew he was out at work they entered as trespassers and stole the plants.
District Judge Richard Williams said he would not order any compensation to be paid as the items stolen were illegal.
He said: “This was a pretty ham-fisted way of trying to get some money recovered. You targeted goods which you thought would be of value to their owner.”
He told Butcher to do 200 hours of unpaid work. Hone was told to wear an electronic tag monitoring a curfew between 8pm and 6am for the next 56 weeks. Both were ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £145 costs.
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