THREE men who helped run a drug farm at a secluded Herefordshire farm house have all escaped a prison sentence.

Hundreds of cannabis plants – with a street value of £300,000 – were seized during a police raid at the Old Vicarage in Aymestrey.

Hereford Crown Court heard drugs were found inside the main eight-bedroom property during the haul on February 2, and in several out-buildings owned by Ann and Philip Smith.

The Smiths were found guilty of the production of cannabis after trial and are awaiting sentencing.

Tim Griffiths, 40, of, Birtley, Bucknell; Kieran Dawson, 20, of Broad Street, Knighton; and Jonathon Jones, 46, of Ffryd Terrace, Knighton, all admitted the production of cannabis.

Charles Hamer, prosecuting, said that Griffiths lived in a smaller adjacent property named ‘The Grannery’ which he rented from the Smiths.

"For a reduction in rent he agreed to grow cannabis,” said Mr Hamer.

"Griffiths claimed he was not aware of the full nature of the extent the Smiths were growing.”

Giles Nelson, mitigating, said that Griffiths wasn’t criminally minded, suffered from depression and had difficult personal circumstances.

The court heard that Dawson, who also pleaded guilty to supplying and possession of cannabis, claimed that £1,000 found in a safe had been made from selling cannabis to friends.

Rob Edwards, mitigating, said Dawson had a lesser role including trimming the plants after harvest.

“He had no real understanding of quite how serious what he was doing was,” said Mr Edwards.

Last week's hearing was told that Jones, who also pleaded guilty to the possession of cannabis, had a long standing back problem and used the drug to deal with the pain.

“He was asked to start trimming the cannabis and didn't receive cash but was allowed to take cannabis,” said Mr Edwards.

He was arrested in Knighton in possession of cannabis.

On sentencing the trio, Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins said: “I can’t see the Smiths doing the work, there must have been people minding it.

“The Smiths set it up for financial reasons and other people performed the functions on their behalf.”

All three defendants were given a 12 months prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

Griffiths was ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work and to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Dawson was ordered to complete 125 hours unpaid work.

Jones was given an additional six months onto an existing community order.