A MAN allowed a cannabis farm containing nearly 100 crops to be grown above his town centre chippy.

For payment of £1,000 a month, Mahir Berkpinar agreed for the farm to be grown in the space above Mike and Martha’s Chippy on Winwick Street.

But after he wasn’t paid for this, he led police straight to the farm where they found 89 cannabis crops.

Berkpinar, 42, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing today, Thursday, after pleading guilty to permitting his premises to be used for the cultivation of cannabis.

Prosecuting, Stephen McNally said how on December 4, 2020, Berkpinar made a call to the police to report he had been assaulted outside his business, the chippy.

Mr McNally explained that when police attended, the defendant told officers he would show them what the argument had been about.

He took them in the residence above the chippy where they found 40 plants in one bedroom and 47 in another which had been growing for ‘several months’.

As well as the crops, a ‘sophisticated’ setup was found containing lights, transformers, tubing, scales and extra equipment.  Berkinpar’s premises had been ‘adapted’ for cannabis cultivation.

Warrington Guardian:

The crops also appeared to be tended to on a regular basis, said Mr McNally.

The court heard how Berkpinar said that the cannabis belonged to somebody else but said he had allowed his premises to be used for an offer of £1,000 per month.

Berkpinar has one previous conviction.

Defending, Simeon Evans said that his client is somebody who can be rehabilitated due to his lack of convictions.

He said: “He tried to get the cannabis plants removed as he hadn’t been paid which led to him being assaulted.”

Mr Evans told the court how Berkpinar ‘suffers somewhat with his mental health’ and ‘buried his head in the sand’ about the offence.

Concluding, Judge Trevor Jones: “It could have resulted in a very substantial street value had the crops ended up on the streets.

“I am prepared to accept that you had become dissociated from the enterprise and that you also led police to it.”

Berkpinar received an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

He must complete up to 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 120 hours of unpaid work.