Police stumbled across a £21,000 cannabis farm after entering the wrong house.

Officers were called to a property in Burnley on March 29, 2020, after receiving a concern for welfare call.

Burnley Crown Court heard how police made entry to a home on Piccadilly Road in Burnley after no-one answered the door.

Prosecutor Allison Mather said there was no-one in the house but police searched and found a cannabis farm set up with 43 plants spread around the property..

The electricity had also been bypassed and there were pipes obstructing the hallway and bathroom. There was also a black bin bag with two sets of scales and cannabis residue.

Around 2.67kg of cannabis was recovered, worth between £21-33,000, depending on how it was sold.

They also found a number of expensive items including a Rolex watch and power tools. The house's owner, Ryan Lord, said that the watch was fake and that he used the power tools for his work as a bricklayer.

It was later discovered that police had in fact gained entry to the wrong home.

Lord, when questioned by police, told officers that a friend, Jamie Howarth, was living at the address.

Police then questioned Howarth who said he was growing it for personal use. He was sentenced to 12 months in custody on May 4, 2021.

Defending Lord, Philip Holden said his client had a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation in the community".

Mr Holden said: “It’s just over two years since the commission of this offence.

“He has no like offences on his record and he is very unlikely to be involved in this again.”

He added that he had a stable relationship and a four-year-old child.

Lord, who previously pleaded guilty to allowing premises to be used for the cultivation of cannabis was handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence.

Passing sentence Recorder Paul Hodgkinson said: “On this day the police located on one view the wrong address but on the other view the right address.

“They found £21,000 of drugs, a significant figure in any situation.

“You are 31 years of age. Your partner is here in court, you have a four-year-old child. It’s time to grow up Mr Lord and put this behind you.”

Lord must also complete 20 days of rehabilitation, 120 hours of unpaid work and pay court costs of £1,000.