A 26-YEAR-OLD man accused of tending to 64 cannabis plants worth £40,000 in a three-storey building at Holyhead in Anglesey was spared jail today.

Anthony Loftus, an engineer, of Ffordd Caradog, Four Mile Bridge, had financial difficulties at the time more than two years ago and responded with “some degree of naivety” to an offer of help, his barrister Brian Treadwell told Caernarfon crown court.

Loftus admitted being involved in cannabis production in Land’s End, Holyhead, in May 2018. Judge Nicola Jones imposed a two-year suspended jail term with rehabilitation dealing with his thinking skills and budgeting, and 250 hours unpaid work. He must pay £425 costs.

Ryan Rothwell, prosecuting, said Loftus told police he wasn’t involved in the setting up of the cannabis grow but he did water the plants.

Judge Jones told the defendant :”Your role was that of looking after the plants, gardening them on the promise of a payment. You know you have been incredibly stupid.”

But she said there had been a two-year delay in getting the case to court. He had committed no further offences and was hard-working.