A MAN was caught growing cannabis in a garden shed as part of a “cottage industry”.

Mark Dane was charged with producing cannabis with a street value of between £6,720 and £20,160.

Police had attended his partner’s home in Blakeney Road, Southampton looking for one of her relatives.

However, they smelt cannabis coming from inside a garden shed during their visit on March 12 this year.

Dane, 44 was not there at the time and during a phone call told officers to leave what was in the shed as it was “just junk”.

Prosecution barrister, Unyime Davies told how once inside officers found 24 cannabis plants, hydroponics and lights.

With only one previous conviction for failing to surrender to custody, Dane of Haweswater Close gave a no comment interview.

However, he later accepted a guilty plea on the basis the plants belonged to his brother-in-law.

He admitted buying the “equipment for a friend of a friend” but didn’t realise it would be used to grow cannabis.

Despite making £250 he regretted getting involved, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Defending barrister, Richard Tutt, argued his client does not use cannabis and the plants were clearly not his.

Furthermore, Dane is said to have expressed his remorse and regret.

During sentencing, Judge Peter Henry described the offence as serious and said: “[It was a ] cottage industry with an element of profit.”

The judge said Dane must have realised the equipment was going to be used for “large scale production”.

He jailed him for four months, suspended for 15 months, and ordered he must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £150 in costs. Judge Henry ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis.