A CONVICTED cannabis grower from Chiswick who maintains that his human rights were breached when police seized a stash of growing equipment from him has received an apology and offer of compensation from Hounslow’s Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Jeff Harris this week.

In a bizarre twist of events, Chief Super Intendent Jeff Harris sent a letter to three times convicted Phillip Walsh, admitting: ‘‘I have taken advice on this matter and in the circumstances, I am obliged to offer my apologies to you for the non return of those items of your property seized from your address and not contained within the destruction order at the Isleworth Crown Court following your conviction for growing cannabis.’’ Mr Harris offered to pay ‘reasonable costs’ for replacement of the growing equipment, which includes irrigation pipes, plastic trays, fans, buckets and dehumidifiers.

Phillip Walsh has castigated police and specifically Chief Sup. Harris after his home was raided and large amounts of cannabis plants, seeds and growing equipment were found on his premises.

Mr Walsh maintains that he is developing hydroponics systems for the cultivation of seeds, with the aim of making medical advancements with hybrid plants and that selling equipment is not illegal. He contends that his offence: ‘‘amounted to little more than a licensing offence.’’ However, following the raid, he was convicted of growing cannabis for a third time and given 150 hours of community service.

On receiving the letter, Mr Walsh, who claims he has been victimised and persecuted by the police in a conspiracy which has infringed his human rights and that this row has affected his children’s emotional and sociological well-being, said: ‘‘It’s good news that the police have offered compensation for the illegal destruction of my property but it is disgusting that it has taken over a year to admit they had done it.

‘‘It should also be noted that the many other issues I requested be addressed have been so far, ignored, such as who decided to seize and destroy my goods despite the clear guidelines contained in the police and criminal evidence act (PACE) and what has happened to my seed bank. It contained my intellectual property and pretty much my lifetimes work.

He continued: ‘‘I don’t know what Chief Sup. Harris’ idea of keeping my claim reasonable is, but I very much doubt its the same as mine, and as for the list of exact property he sent it is inadequate in its description and incomplete as many items are missing from my home and are not on the list nor are the items damaged during the gutting of my property accounted for.’’ Ch Sup. Int. Harris has repeatedly responded to Mr Walsh’s claims over the past year, saying in previous interviews: ‘‘It is a great shame that Mr Walsh feels that he has been victimised, given that a court convicted him of a criminal offence yet again. The law currently is quite clear as to what is allowed and not allowed relating to the possession and cultivation of drugs including cannabis.

He has also reminded Mr Walsh that: ‘‘It is not part of the duty of police to involve themselves in any pharmaceutical licensing matters.

‘‘We have a legal obligation, wherever possible, to ensure that members of the community obey laws, regardless of what those individuals may feel about what they perceive is an infringement of their human rights.’’