A MAN who was caught watering more than £200,000 worth of cannabis plants in a disused mill has avoided jail.

Bolton Crown Court heard Roy Shepherd, of St Helens Road, Bolton, agreed to look after the 1,185 plants at Kenyon Mill in Kenyon Street, Ramsbottom, for one week to wipe out an old drug debt.

But the former drug user was caught on his third day when a police officer and planning officer visited the mill to deal with planning breaches on June 1 last year.

They discovered the sophisticated cannabis farm, which the court heard had used £55,000 worth of stolen electricity. The plants were in five rooms and had an estimated street value of £216,200.

Shepherd, aged 48, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to production of cannabis.

Mark Friend, defending, said: “He foolishly took the view that a week of watering plants to rid him of looking over his shoulder in Bolton everyday would be worthwhile.

“The defendant’s role was transient and he admitted it as soon as he was arrested.”

The court heard he has previous convictions for theft and non drugrelated offences. The court heard that he moved away from Bolton and turned his life around, but when he came back his past caught up with him.

Recorder Julian Shaw gave him a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and he must complete 150 hours unpaid work.

He said: “You have been in court dozens of times over the years but more recently you have turned your life around.

“In June last year, you rather stupidly got yourself involved in helping out in what was a large scale cannabis cultivation factory.

“You have to be sentenced on your basis of plea and you are involved at the bottom end of the scale.