Colin Guidon and Michael Hulme plead guilty to producing cannabis

Colin Guidon, from Middleton, and Michael Hulme, from Newhey, have both pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and have been bailed for sentencing until 23 September 2015.

Police executed a search warrant at Height Barn Mill in Bacup in February 2013 and found 436 cannabis plants in three different growing areas of the first floor. They also found 41 lighting units and 41 transformers.

Guidon and Hulme were caught after their fingerprints were found on the equipment and DNA was recovered from cigarette butts.

A red Peugeot belonging to Guidon was also found on the ground floor of the mill and both men were traced back to Middleton and Rochdale, where they were later arrested.

When officers found the cannabis, it is understood that the mill on Height Barn Lane was being used for car repairs.

Burnley Crown Court heard that both men pleaded guilty on the basis that they were only involved in setting up the equipment and received a ‘small monetary payment’.

Judge Jonathan Gibson warned the men that the maximum sentence is two years and eight months in prison.