Police were called to her house after reports that she was being threatened by a male tenant.
In one of her upstairs room police found 52-year-old George Joseph Williams-Thomas surrounded by 29 cannabis plants.
He told police he had been paid £50 to water the plants by someone he met at the pub.
But Williams-Thomas, of Croydon Road in Penge, later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of cannabis.
On Thursday (February 15) he appeared at Woolwich Crown Court where he was given a suspended prison sentence.
‘I’ll cut your face off’
The court heard that late at night on August 11, 2022, police received a call that a male tenant was threatening a woman on Capstone Road, Bromley.
When officers arrived, the woman appeared terrified but told them the man had gone away.
“This wasn’t true. She was just reluctant to let police know that you were upstairs because she was fearful of repercussions,” Judge David Miller told Williams-Thomas.
But officers heard noises coming from upstairs and when they investigated they found Williams-Thomas surrounded by 29 cannabis plants.
The growing set-up was described as sophisticated with lights, hydroponics and extraction fans.
The landlady’s electricity card was found in Williams-Thomas’ pocket.
At first, he told officers: “I was just watering the plants. I thought it was CDB. I didn’t think it was illegal to grow it.”
Despite later pleading guilty, he continued to claim he had been paid £50 to water the plants.
But the Crown Prosecution Service did not accept this version of events and Williams-Thomas was called to give evidence.
Judge Miller told him: “I’m satisfied that you lied to me throughout your evidence. Your explanation was utterly implausible and I’ve found that you played a significant role in that cannabis factory and you did that because it was a way of making money.”
He continued: “I am particularly concerned that the landlady appeared scared. I am entirely satisfied that she was an unwilling party and there was control being exercised over part of her home.”
‘You deserve to go to prison’
Williams-Thomas has 21 previous convictions for 68 offences.
But his barrister said he hadn’t offended since 2016 and that financial strains had pushed him into this situation.
The court heard that he dedicates a large amount of time to caring for his young son.
Judge Miller decided that the appropriate sentence for Williams-Thomas was 17 months in custody, but that it should be suspended for 18 months so he will not see the inside of a cell unless he offends again during that time.
“I am thinking about your 12-year-old son. For that reason and that reason alone, Mr Williams-Thomas, I am not going to send you to prison immediately today, it will be a suspended sentence,” Judge Miller said.
“I emphasise that it is only for that reason, you otherwise richly deserve to go to prison.”
Williams-Thomas will be required to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and will have a nightly curfew.
