Cannabis farmer in bizarre escape bid; Man's Tyne plunge.

Byline: GARY WILLEY

A DRUG farmer had his crop uncovered - after staging a bizarre bid for freedom in the Tyne.

James Madine's downfall began when police saw him using a mobile as he drove through Blaydon, Gateshead.

The 35-year-old briefly stopped his car before leading the patrol crew on a high speed chase, forcing other cars to brake hard to avoid a collision.

Madine finally went through a red light on to Newburn Bridge, jumped from the still moving car, and plunged into the river in his desperation to escape.

But after swimming 15 metres he realised the task was too much.

Officers arrested him when he scrambled, cold and soaked, back on to the riverbank.

And when they searched his home in Milton Grove, Prudhoe, they found the cannabis farm he had set up in the loft and garage.

"The defendant had gone about 50 metres from where he had abandoned the vehicle and jumped into the river obviously attempting to escape from the officers by swimming to the other side," said Tim Parkin, prosecuting at Newcastle Crown Court.

"But after about 15 metres he realised it was a greater task than he could achieve, he was obviously struggling, and returned to the bank where he was arrested." The cannabis farm had been fitted out with sophisticated equipment including special lighting, extractors, and a watering system.

And although the tray loads of plants already harvested had been poor quality failures, Judge John Evans rejected Madine's claim he was only growing cannabis for his own use.

"I don't accept that explanation," Judge Evans said. "It seems to me there was also a profit element that was contemplated here.

"What saves you from going to custody is the fact you seem to have been unsuccessful in your attempt to produce substantial quantities of cannabis.

"Quite why is difficult to understand given you undoubtedly had all the equipment with which to make a successful venture in that regard." Madine was given a two year community order with supervision and 200 hours unpaid work after admitting cultivating cannabis, dangerous driving, and possessing other class C drugs found at his home last August. He was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay pounds 500 costs.

"He cannot believe what he did that night," said Brian Mark, defending. "It was panic.

All he could think of was escaping from the officers. It was foolish behaviour." www.chroniclelive.co.uk To see a map of cannabis farms found in the North East, log on to: