REPTILE BREEDER RAN CANNABIS PRODUCTION LINE AT HIS CITY HOME

A judge has decided not to put a man's reptiles under the control of the courts as he awaits sentencing for running a cannabis production line at his home.Judge Graham Cottle was yesterday considering whether to impose a restraint order on Neil Mounce's animals, to prevent him from disposing of them as assets. Orders can be used to secure assets which could be confiscated as a result of drug-trafficking convictions, to stop criminals dissipating or hiding assets.

Detectives discovered cannabis plants being grown, dried and bagged up for sale and £4,500 in drugs-related cash, in a raid at Mounce's home in Pinwood Meadow Drive, Beacon Heath, Exeter.

The city's crown court heard that he bred reptiles as a hobby. Prosecutor Ann Reddrop told Judge Cottle: "I don't want an order Your Honour - we don't have to manage the beasts then if it goes wrong."

Judge Cottle replied: "It's one thing to have a restraint order on a top-of- the-range BMW car and another to have one on a baby alligator."

Mounce, 26, had earlier admitted various offences on the basis that he dealt cannabis to fund his own heavy habit. The prosecution claimed he had used it to fund a comfortable, but not lavish, lifestyle.

But Ms Reddrop told the court yesterday that Mounce's pleas were acceptable as the Crown Prosecution Service was going to try to claw back any of his profits through an application to confiscate proceeds of crime.

Mounce, who now lives at another address in the city, has admitted producing cannabis, possessing the class C drug nitrazepam and possessing criminal property, the £4,500 cash. He has also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply and two charges of supplying class C drugs, involving cannabis and cannabis resin.

Detectives discovered a hydroponic system in his spare bedroom, with 24 cannabis plants being grown, and previously cultivated and dried cannabis in his freezer, in a raid on October 24, last year.

The court heard yesterday that the prosecution raised questions about how Mounce could afford a guitar collection, a large television and the money to buy a new house, while working as a labourer.

But defence counsel Nicholas Bradley said there were innocent explanations for how Mounce afforded his lifestyle. He was bailed for sentencing on December 21.