A 23-year-old Huyton man has been jailed for three years after police discovered a live cannabis cultivation setup operating directly next to a baby's crib.
James Furlong, of Logwood Road, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday (June 26) following a targeted operation by Merseyside Police's specialist County Lines unit, Project Medusa.
Arrest and Investigation
The path to Furlong's arrest began in October last year when plain-clothes officers on patrol in St Helens intercepted a suspect and seized a mobile phone. A deep forensic analysis of the device exposed a massive digital paper trail, revealing hundreds of outgoing messages advertising Class A and Class B substances - including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and cannabis - for sale.
When officers subsequently raided Furlong's home address to execute an arrest warrant, they were confronted with a shocking scene in one of the bedrooms. Inside a wardrobe immediately adjacent to an infant's cot, Furlong was running a live cannabis grow operation. The small space was packed with live cannabis plants and webbed with makeshift, high-voltage electrical wiring.
Police Condemn Reckless Endangerment
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Stratton of Project Medusa condemned the absolute disregard for child safety shown by the operation. "Officers turned up at his home to arrest Furlong for what they'd found on his phone," DCI Stratton said. "Despite already being under investigation, you can imagine the surprise when they discovered cannabis plants growing in a cupboard next to the cot with cables surrounding it, potentially putting the baby's life in danger of a fire."
DCI Stratton emphasised that criminal gangs routinely exploit the vulnerable to handle their street-level operations, adding that the force remains single-mindedly focused on dismantling these networks. "Our work to remove these people from our streets and bring them to justice will continue on a daily basis," he stated.
Sentence and Conviction
Furlong pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the production of cannabis, as well as being concerned in the supply of cocaine, heroin, and cannabis. He has begun serving his 36-month sentence.
