Police shut down 70-plant cannabis farm worth up to £58,000 on Hartlepool industrial estate

Gas engineer Karl Jukes, 46, had 70 cannabis plants growing in his unit on the Longhill Industrial Estate and a box of steroid pills.

The cannabis was worth between £20,000 and £58,000 and Jukes put a value of £1,000 on the hundreds of out-of-date steroids, said prosecutor Nigel Soppitt.

Jukes, who was arrested on the premises in the December 19 raid could have expected to make a profit from the farm, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Stephen Constantine, defending, said that Jukes had his own business and he had stayed out of trouble for 20 years since a drugs conviction in 2000.

He said that Jukes was fit to perform unpaid work for the community as a direct alternative to an immediate prison sentence.

Jukes, of Ashgrove Avenue, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis and possession of steroids.

Judge Peter Armstrong told him: “You know from past involvement with drugs that this was an illegal operation which had a potential value, and it’s 20 years since you were in trouble.

”You are quite capable of rehabilitation and because of your lack of convictions in the past 20 years you have shown a capability for keeping out of trouble.”

Jukes was given a 20 months jail sentence suspended for two years, 150 hours of unpaid work for the community and ordered to pay £600 prosecution costs at £50 a month.

The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis plants and growing equipment.