Care worker in Wales struck off for cannabis factory conviction

A care worker in Wales who allowed her house to be used for growing cannabis has been struck off.

Melanie Cotton was convicted of permitting her premises to be used for the production of the class B drug at Caernarfon Crown Court in 2010 and sentenced to a year’s imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

Cotton, of Garnett Avenue, Rhyl was formerly employed as a team manager for ProCare Wales, a company providing support services to disabled adults.

ProCare Wales reported the conviction to the Care Council for Wales, where Cotton was registered as a residential child care worker.

A CCW conduct committee decided Cotton’s involvement in the commercial production of illegal drugs was “fundamentally incompatible” with being a social care worker and decided to remove her from the register. Cotton did not attend the hearing.

Helen Shepherd, managing director of ProCare Wales, said: “While Ms Cotton’s personal and private activities were not directly work related, ProCare took the difficult decision to pursue care council intervention for the long term benefit of our vulnerable service user group.

“We are pleased that the right conclusion has resulted from this.”

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