A CANNABIS farmer, caught with 140 plants at his Waterfoot home, has been ordered to pay back £27,000.

Police investigators launched a financial inquiry into the profits made by Darren Burke, 43, after his conviction for producing cannabis last October.

The plants were uncovered in his cellar in Ashworth Street.

He was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with 180 hours’ community service.

Now under the Proceeds of Crime Act he was has been told unless he repays £27,000, within six months, he will face a 15-month prison sentence.

Financial investigator Det Con Tony Morris said: “Burke clearly had access to cash, which he has been unable to attribute to any legitimate source of income.

“It’s just not right that decent law abiding people have to tolerate criminals enjoying a standard of living that they are not entitled to.”