Brothers put holes in walls and wreck ceilings at rented flat they converted into a cannabis factory

A pair of brothers wrecked a rented house when they combined their skills as an electrician and a carpenter to convert it into a cannabis factory.

Thomas and Frank Harding made holes in walls and ceilings to install ventilation ducts and convert living rooms into growing areas at the house in Exeter, Devon.

Landlord Paul Holmes paid a routine visit to his property only to find it unoccupied other than the 42 plants.

The brothers were spared jail after a judge at Exeter Crown Court was told there was no evidence they planned to sell the 1lb to 1lb 4oz of skunk which the factory was capable of producing every 12 weeks.

Carpenter Frank Harding, 22, of Exeter and electrician Thomas, 27, of Exeter both admitted producing cannabis. Frank also admitted possessing a knuckleduster.

They were both ordered to do 100 hours unpaid community work and receive 12 months supervision by Judge Alistair McGrigor at Exeter Crown Court.
Frank was fined £500 for having the knuckleduster and they were both ordered to pay £1,060 costs.

The judge told them: 'This production operation was relatively sophisticated and setting it up caused significant damage to the property.

'I accept this was the first crop and was for your own use, but whether that would have remained the case if you had been successful is a matter of conjecture.
'Producing cannabis on this scale can result in a prison sentence but I do not intend to send you to prison.'

DAILYMAIL