A man employed as a ‘gardener or caretaker’ for a cannabis enterprise has been jailed, with other members of the drugs gang awaiting trial.

Leonard Perkins was recruited to oversee the production of cannabis and cannabis infused sweets at a premises in High Street, Rishton.

Preston Crown Court was told that on May 24 last year, police executed a warrant and within the property found a large amount of cannabis bush and THC infused sweets and sweet packages.

Entry was then gained to the adjoining property which was being used as a storage area for hydroponics (growing plants without using soil), and a set of keys and mobile phone seized from Perkins, with the keys fitting the door of the second property.

The defendant’s finger prints were also found on a tenancy agreement for the unit, which was last used as a removals and second-hand furniture business.

Perkins, formerly of Bridgefield Close, Rishton, was arrested with police discovering evidence there were others involved in the production of the drugs-infused items.

Graham Rishton, prosecuting, said the defendant was acting under some influence from one of the other men.

The drugs recovered were analysed and 622 packets of THC infused sweets were found as well as five packets of cookies worth around £15,675.

The mixed skunk discovered was just short of 14.5kg with a value of between £10,400 and £13,000.

Perkins, who has 20 convictions for 39 offences, pleaded guilty to two counts of being concerned in the production of cannabis.

Mitigating, Niamh Ingham said her client was at the bottom of the chain and wanted to turn his life around having been in custody since last year.

Judge Guy Mathieson said: “The heading of gardener was the appropriate one for you, or caretaker. You were put in the address to look after the production for others.

“You know that this is such a serious level that for those at the top, we’re talking about a number of years in prison.

“You have already served a significant time on remand so I am going to impose 18 months in prison for each count, concurrent, that may mean a little bit more time in prison to serve but it may give you that little bit more time to plan for your release to get something in place.”