A MAN who converted his loft into a cannabis production unit has been jailed for ten months for his efforts.

It follows a judge’s rejection of defendant Christopher Conlin’s explanation for the domestic drug ‘farm’ which was uncovered when police raided his home in Leadgate, near Consett, last October.

Durham Crown Court heard officers went upstairs and found a ladder leading to the loft.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said they found the attic space divided into three separate ‘rooms’ surrounded by plastic sheeting.

They recovered 33 cannabis plants in different stages of growth, with a potential yield of 1.2kg - worth an estimated £12,000 in street sale terms.

Half a bag of cuttings were also found while the electric meter had been bypassed to provide free power.

The defendant went on to make admissions, when interviewed, but claimed he was pressured into growing cannabis due to a drug debt, although he refused to name those involved.

Conlin, 29, of Dunelm Way, Leadgate, admitted cannabis production at a previous hearing, on the basis he was coerced into growing the drug.

His explanation was not accepted and a trial of issue was staged, during which Conlin told the court he had £12,000 debts due to his cocaine habit which could see him spending between £600 and £1,000 on the class A drug each weekend.

He said this took up most of his wages from the Nissan car plant and had to turn to loan sharks.

Conlin said at one stage he was taken to a field and badly beaten, before the unnamed men turned up at his house with the equipment for growing cannabis.

Judge Simon Hickey dismissed Conlin’s account saying it was “easy” to make up a story about being threatened by ‘mysterious men’ who could not be named.

Elizabeth Muir, for Conlin, said the father of three has “considerable responsibilities” at home, but has lost his job at Nissan and now relies on benefits.

She added that he is on medication for depression and is “trying to sort out his difficulties with drugs”.

Imposing Conlin’s first prison sentence, Judge Hickey said: “These courts have to send out the message that for anyone growing cannabis on this scale, it has to be custody.”

His Citroen Xsara Picasso car was also seized under the crime proceeds procedure.