Charity worker who set up ‘Tent City’ handed suspended sentence for growing cannabis

He also has to do 100 hours of unpaid work

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A Sheffield charity worker who set up 'Tent City' to provide shelter for homeless people in Sheffield, has been given a suspended sentence for growing cannabis.

The drug was found after a house fire in January of this year in which firefighters found a 'substantial amount' of cannabis being grown.

Tent City was set up at Park Hill flats

Tent City was set up at Park Hill flats

Anthony Cunningham, who was seen as the face of 'Tent City', said that he'd started growing the drug in order to clear debts after neglecting his personal situation to focus on his charity work.

He escaped jail and was instead handed a suspended sentence, also being ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. On top of this he has to pay a victim surcharge of £115.

He warned that the homeless situation in Sheffield is going to get worse

He warned that the homeless situation in Sheffield is going to get worse

'Tent City' was set up last year at Park Hill flats in order to provide homeless people in Sheffield with shelter. Anthony Cunningham was the face of the operation, with many students across the city becoming involved with the scheme before it was shut down by Sheffield City Council.

One student volunteer commented, "In the absence of the council actually doing anything about homelessness in Sheffield, 'Tent City' was a great thing for homeless people. It's a shame its founder has been given a bad name, and that this could endanger vital future work".