Heat-sensitive camera discovers Cannabis factory

IT MAY look like this 10th floor flat has been singled out for an exterior wall whitewash -- but the silvery glow emanating from this Birmingham home indicates it's been converted into a cannabis factory. Heat-sensitive cameras on board West Midlands Police's helicopter detected unusually high temperatures seeping from the walls of the high-rise home in Nechells' South Tower. 'Glowing' properties picked up on the high-tech equipment are a tell-tale sign of cannabis production as the plants require significant heat and light input to grow. Air operations staff alerted neighbourhood police colleagues on the ground and, days later, officers raided the address and discovered 143 cannabis plants. Benjamin Edwards was arrested and charged with cannabis cultivation and, at Birmingham Crown Court, on Friday (Oct 11) a judge sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for 24 months, and ordered him to attend a three-month drug rehab course.