A MAN set up a cannabis factory behind a false wall in a mobile phone shop, a court heard.

Burnley Crown Court was told Neil Rae, 29, who was strapped for cash, ran the farm from his then business on Burnley Road East in Waterfoot.

He had back-up facilities and was also involved in growing more than £7,000 of cannabis at the flat next door.

Rae kept a working stungun at the shop, but claimed he was storing it and it was nothing to do with drugs.

Father-of-two Ryan Haigh, 30, was ‘actively involved’ as a gardener for an earlier crop over a few months at the beginning of the cultivations and received £3,000 as a share.

The hearing was told how on September 19 last year, police stopped Rae outside the shop.

They found 35.7 grams of cannabis bush worth £350 in his van which Rae said was for personal use.

The defendant was arrested and police went to the flat where they found 18 plants growing with a potential street value of £7,200.

The shop was searched and police found there had been drugs production there behind a fake internal wall, but no plants were growing.

Haigh was arrested on November 23 after mobile phone analysis revealed he and Rae had been discussing cannabis production.

Father-to-be Rae, of Pleasant View, and Haigh, of Hannah Street, both Bacup, each admitted producing cannabis.

Rae also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis, 295 milligrams of cocaine and the stun gun. A proceeds of crime hearing will be held on December 6.

Rae received 22 months in jail, suspended for two years, with 250 hours unpaid work. Haigh was given 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 180 hours unpaid work.

Sentencing the pair, Recorder Kevin Grice said Rae played a more substantial role.

But he said: “This was a significant operation in which you both played roles.”