An ex-Army serviceman who claims he had to set up a cannabis farm in his home after owing a debt to "unsavoury characters" has been jailed.

Police found a "professional" cannabis farm operation set up in the home of Jake Brian Costello after they were notified of a break-in on February 28.

Plants with an estimated street value of up to £138,000 were discovered in the Guisborough home, complete with growing tents and high-powered lighting installed.

But when Costello, 26, turned himself in a day later, he claimed he had to set up the farm after he and his family were threatened by people associated with county lines gangs after borrowing money due to financial struggles.

Costello, of High Street, Normanby, appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for production of cannabis.

165 plants

Michael Cahill, prosecuting, said police received a call at around 9.45pm to reports of a break-in at a home.

"Police arrived and found a window had been smashed and officers believed there may have been someone inside so forced entry", he said.

"No one was present but police found a number of cannabis bushes and documentation that showed the defendant lived there."

The next morning, Costello handed himself in to police at Middlesbrough station.

A total of 165 cannabis plants were recovered from the home, which officers estimated had a street value of between £46,000 and £138,000.

Costello gave a basis of plea and admitted "planting and cultivating" the plants but said he would not have made any money directly as he "owed people money".

The court heard that Costello "would not reveal any names" of the people he owed money to.

Served in Afghanistan

Kelleigh Lodge, defending, said Costello had served in the Army but left voluntarily last year after suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues after serving in Afghanistan.

"When he left the Army he had a plan in place of employment", she said.

"Unfortunately, due to the covid pandemic the job was no longer available and he struggled financially.

"This led him to borrowing money from unsavoury characters."

Ms Lodge said that Costello got into debt and that "various threats of violence were made to him and his family".

She said he was "lightly convicted" and had "no intention of placing himself in this situation again".

The court heard that the debt owed was to "people that may be involved in county lines gangs" and that the money borrowed had "nothing to do with drugs".

Ms Lodge added that Costello had never been involved in taking drugs himself.

Jailed

Sentencing him, Recorder David Gordon said that Costello's basis of plea was that "people said he could pay off the debt if he was able to grow plants in his house".

He added that as Costello provided no details as to who these people were, it was "impossible for police to make inquiries as to whether this is a basis of plea that has any substance".

Costello was jailed for 25 months.