A PLASTERER who had a £16,000 cannabis factory at his home, has been locked up for 14 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how self-employed Marc Thripp, 26, was growing 39 plants in two silver foil lined tents in an upstairs bedroom.

The plants had a lighting, ventilation and irrigation system and could potentially have produced 1.6 kilos of cannabis.

Thripp, a committee member at his local workingmen’s club, admitted producing cannabis, between December 2010 and February last year.

The hearing was told the defendant, of Olive Street, Stacksteads, had owned up on the basis he was a heavy cannabis user, smoked it daily, would have sold some of the drugs to family and friends to cover costs and would have taken some of the cannabis himself.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said police who raided the defendant’s home, asked him if there was anything there that shouldn’t be and he told them about the factory.

They estimated a yield of 40 grams per plant and that the harvest could potentially have been worth up to £16,000 on the streets.

Thripp, who had no similar previous convictions, now faces a proceeds of crime hearing.

Neil Fryman, for Thripp, said he knew he could be facing a custodial term of some length.

He had not grown cannabis before, had pleaded guilty and there were very positive aspects to his character.

He said: “He has had the fright of his life with these proceedings.”