Man arrested after cannabis plants seized in Darlington

The two properties, on Skinnergate and Clifton Road, were searched by officers who discovered hundreds of cannabis plants yesterday (April 29) – leading to the arrest of a 39-year-old man.

Officers first descended on Skinnergate in the town centre yesterday and found 250 plants – and further enquiries linked it to another farm on Clifton Road.

(Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Police and CSI investigator teams were later spotted parked outside a property on Clifton Road overnight.

White-suited CSI investigators were later spotted heading in and out of the property, removing evidence now confirmed to have been linked to the farm.

Both farms were seized and destroyed.

A full Durham Constabulary statement reads: “Officers were called to an address on Skinnergate, in Darlington, yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon.

“A cannabis farm, made up of around 250 plants, was located inside the property.

“Further enquiries led the Darlington Neighbourhood Team to locate another cannabis farm consisting of around 100 plants on Clifton Road, in Darlington.

(Image: NORTHERN ECHO) “A 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene and remains in police custody. Both farms have been dismantled and the plants will be destroyed.

“The electricity had also been bypassed and has since been made safe.”

Darlington Neighbourhood Inspector David Littlefair added: “We take cannabis production very seriously and will seek the justice deserved on any perpetrators who feel they can commit this kind of crime in Darlington.”

Reacting to the police presence on Clifton Road, neighbour David Chambers, 78, said: “I haven’t been out to see any of it but there were three police vehicles there last night. They had the big white vans, I think there was two.

(Image: NORTHERN ECHO) “They have been here all night, the door was left open and there was a police officer sitting inside at the door.