Two men involved in a sophisticated £850,000 cannabis factory have been jailed for a total of almost 11 years.
Troy Stirling, 30, and Ryan Paterson, 32, were vital to the set-up at a disused farmhouse in Moscow, East Ayrshire. Police swooped after detecting a strong stench of the drug coming from the area.
Stirling and Paterson were today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow. The pair, both of the city's Ruchazie, had earlier pled guilty to being concerned in the supply and producing cannabis between July 1 2018 and December 13 2019.
Lord Scott jailed each of them for five years and four months. The judge was told by the pair's lawyers that they were acting as "gardeners" at the cannabis farm having got into debt.
Lord Scott said: "It is an unfortunate conclusion that it is your choices that have left each of you facing a custodial sentence."
He added given the "scale of the operation" it must have been apparent to both the seriousness of the crime.
Prosecutor Marco Guarino earlier told how the factory had been set up in three different areas. The house itself at Muirside Farm, a shed as well as in a cellar.
There were a number of gates which lead up to the property. Police arrived on December 13 2019 after being alerted to what was going on.
Mr Guarino: "Officers...detected a smell of cannabis and the whirring of fans."
He said police eventually seized a total of more than 1,400 cannabis plants with a potential total value of £849,000. While officers were there, a car rolled up at the site.
Mr Guarino: "The vehicle reached where the police had parked...reversed and then made off at speed."
The motor was immediately followed and soon stopped. Stirling was driving with Paterson the passenger. Graeme Brown, defending Stirling, said he was a first offender who did not play "a leading role" in the operation.
The solicitor advocate added: "He had no influence over anyone else. It does appear he was targeted by those responsible in the organisation due to debts built up."
Paterson's lawyer David Fisken said the former scaffolder had lost his job and also had money issues.
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