A man grew more than £10,000 worth of cannabis in his loft before being caught by police, a court has heard.

Wesley Hilton, 38, was arrested after police on patrol caught him in a car with a snap bag of “green vegetable matter” and a Nokia “burner phone.”

Bolton Crown Court heard how police had seen a white Volkswagen on Winchester Way, Breightmet on August 2 2022 when their suspicions were aroused.

Prosecutor Edwin Potts said: “They suspected that a drug deal was taking place.”

Hilton had been in the car and after a search, where the officers found the green vegetable matter and phone, police then searched his home where they found ladders leading to the loft.

The Bolton News: The case was heard at Bolton Crown CourtThe case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Potts told the court how on going into his loft they found around 20 “mature cannabis plants”, which an expert believed would be worth around £11,800 if sold in “street deals.”

Hilton, of Marsey Road, Breightmet, was arrested and gave no comment when interviewed by police.

But he pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis plants when brought before the magistrates court.

Mr Potts said that Hilton had been caught with a “substantial set up” for producing drugs in his loft and that he hoped for a “significant financial advantage” from his crime.

He said that this made his offence all the more serious.

Martin Pizzey, defending, said that the “main thrust” of his argument was that Hilton had earned credit for his guilty plea.

He also pointed out that though the 38-year-old has two previous convictions for two offences, neither were for similar crimes.

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Mr Pizzey said that he would tell the defendant he would have to set “his heart and his mind” to his rehabilitation.

Recorder Andrew Long accepted that Hilton had earned credit but reminded the court of the seriousness of his crime.

He said: “There is no excuse for growing cannabis, there is no excuse for using it really and therefore you must mend your ways or else in future its going to be custody.”

Recorder Long sentenced Hilton to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.