Police swooped on a cannabis farm. after smelling the fumes from their police station next door.
Officers seized 118 plants, worth more than £70,000, from the warehouse next to the station in Wishaw.
We told you previously how Paul McCann was caught red-handed with the keys and fainted when detained by the police.
The dad-of-two was jailed after he admitted producing cannabis and being concerned in the supply of the drug.
Prosecutor Abby Seal said the 41-year-old was seen putting tools in a Ford Transit van outside the building on June 18, 2020.
She told Hamilton Sheriff Court: “Police officers detected a strong smell of cannabis and detained him. As they walked towards the premises, the accused became extremely nervous and fainted.
“Officers opened the door and could smell cannabis and hear fans running. During a search 118 cannabis plants were found as well as 99 cannabis seedlings. The accused’s phone was examined and revealed conversations involving equipment for the premises.
“There would have been a substantial financial outlay to obtain items such as duct tape, fans, bags of pebbles and cooling tubes.
"The estimated cost of the equipment found is £23,000. Specialist officers say it was commercial-level production of cannabis.”
McCann, of Blantyre, claimed that when he started work at the building – which is next door to Wishaw police station – he didn’t realise what was being set up.
His lawyer, Ali Murray, said: “Work dried up during the pandemic and he ended up doing odd jobs including at what he thought was a warehouse.
"By the time he realised what was involved he felt it was too late to pull out, not for his personal safety but that of his family.
“He is remorseful and realises the impact this kind of behaviour has on communities.”
Sheriff Andrew McIntyre jailed McCann for 21 months, reduced from 28 months because of his guilty pleas.
The sheriff said: “This was an extensive commercial operation.
"You were central to it, obtaining valuable equipment that was essential to the operation."
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