Dopey drug dealer's cannabis farm discovered above Musselburgh Farmfoods shop after water leak

A dopey drug dealer is facing a jail sentence after his cannabis farm was discovered following a leak from his property.

Andrew Fairholm had set up the drug cultivation housing around 90 plants above the Farmfoods supermarket in Musselburgh.

Fairholm, 53, pretended to be operating a second hand furniture business in the space above the frozen food outlet.

But the illicit drug set up was uncovered after water began leaking into the store below and entry was forced in a bid to locate where the water was coming from.

Andrew Fairholm had set up the drug cultivation housing around 90 plants above the Farmfoods supermarket in Musselburgh. Pic: Google street view.

Police were called in to deal with the matter and officers found that the dope farm within the property could have brought in between £50,000 and £75,000.

Fairholm is now facing a custodial sentence after Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard he had previously been caged for five years after he was caught with £200,000 of heroin while working as a private hire driver.

Police left a 'call back card' after discovery

Prosecutor Rosie Cook told the court entry to the property above the Farmfoods store was forced after staff spotted water pouring into the shop on February 7, 2018.

Ms Cook said: “Once inside, a large cannabis cultivation was identified and the police were called.

“Police thereafter sought a warrant and unusually left a call back card for the accused to contact them.

“The accused then attended at Musselburgh police station on February 13.”

Ms Cook added the furniture business was found to be housing 90 cannabis plants with a street value of between £50,000 and £75,000.

The drugs were said to have been set up in “five separate growing areas” within tents and the area also contained equipment such as heating, lighting and fans.

Previous jail time

Stephen Mannifield, defending, said his client had been previously involved in the drug trade while employed as a private hire driver and had served five years in prison.

The brief added Fairholm, from Musselburgh, was a second-hand furniture dealer and he had been approached by cannabis dealers to help them set up the plantation.

Mr Mannifield said the dealers paid the £500 monthly rent after he had agreed to “share the property” within them.

Sheriff Donald Corke deferred sentence to later this month for the preparation of reports.

Fairholm pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis at High Street, Musselburgh, East Lothian, between September 7, 2017 and February 7, 2018.

Fairholm was also jailed in March 2006 after he was caught with almost two kilos of heroin worth around £200,000.

Police received intelligence that Fairholm was involved in the drug trade and followed him as he drove his Ford Mondeo to a service station in Musselburgh.

Police officers then watched on as he took delivery of two packages and pulled him over a short time after in December 2005

He admitted to supplying the Class A drug at the High Court in Edinburgh and was jailed for five years.