Potter actor sentenced over drugs

Jamie Waylett apologised to fans after being sentenced

A Harry Potter actor has been told to carry out community service after he admitted growing cannabis plants in his mother's north-west London home.

Jamie Waylett, who plays bully Vincent Crabbe in the film series, pleaded guilty to growing 10 cannabis plants in tents at the Kilburn house.

Waylett, 20, was ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work by Westminster Magistrates' Court.

He was arrested after police found pictures of the plants on his camera.

Police seized the camera after he was arrested for taking a picture of officers as he and his friend John Innis, 20, drove past, the court was told.

When police searched Mr Waylett's mother's home they found the 10 cannabis plants.

Waylett, from Kilburn, played a sidekick of villain Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.

Sophisticated system

Sentencing him, District Judge Timothy Workman said: "Mr Waylett, I accept that the cultivation of this cannabis was on a small scale, and this was not in any way a commercial venture on your part.

"Nevertheless you used a sophisticated growing system to do so.

"I give you credit for pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, your co-operation with police and the fact that you are, until now, a man of good character."

Leaving the court, Waylett said: "I extend my sincere apologies to the producers, cast and crew and all at Warners and most especially to all Harry Potter fans."

'Sorry and remorseful'

Waylett and Innis were stopped under the Terrorism Act in Lodge Road, St John's Wood, west London, after the actor took a photograph of a police patrol.

Police found a lock-knife and eight small bags of herbal cannabis in Innis' car. Three further bags of cannabis were found at his home in Mays Lane, Barnet.

Innis, who admitted possessing a knife and 11 bags of cannabis, was sentenced to six weeks' custody in a young offenders' institution and fined £500.

Speaking for Innis and Waylett, solicitor Cheryl Rudden said: "If I may emphasise that they are both extremely sorry and remorseful for what they have done and certainly would seek to be setting an example."

Waylett had received a police reprimand and two warnings between 2001 and 2005 while Innis received a police reprimand in 2003. No details of the incidents were given in court.

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