A LLANGOLLEN who man who grew a cannabis farm, described as being 'no little operation', across two levels of his home has avoided jail because of his tragic life circumstances.

Guy Packenham-Walsh, 67 and of Methodist Hill in Froncysyllte, was given a two-year sentence – suspended for 18 months – for two charges of producing a controlled class b drug and abstracting unauthorised electricity.

Police raided his home last month where Packenham-Walsh admitted growing 68 cannabis plants of varying sizes, which had a street value of between £19k-£57k, and also found a generator, which he had built an attic around, which had bypassed electricity at £3,132.07.

They also found £4,000 in cash and a book containing information about local dealers.

However, he avoided jail after Judge Timothy Petts accepted the extraordinary circumstances that led to him growing the farm, while also acknowledging the size of his operation.

The court heard that Packenham-Walsh began growing the plants in order raise money to give his wife and step-daughter a holiday as both had been diagnosed with cancer.

His defence said he was under extraordinary stress as he had been sworn to secrecy over keeping his step-daughter's diagnosis away from his wife – they both died in recent months.

He was also using the cannabis for his own consumption in order to provide pain relief following the donation of a kidney to his sister many years ago.

Judge Petts said: "Police found a large and sophisticated cannabis grow – you went to a lot of trouble to do that.

"There were 68 plants in there across three areas – this was no little operation.

"You have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

"You have a long-standing use of cannabis for long-term pain relief from a kidney donation and that you were trying to raise money for your wife and step daughter.

"It is tragic they both died. You have shown incredible remorse and you have a low risk of reoffending.

"These exceptional circumstances means the usual custodial sentence for growing such an amount is not needed."

He received no separate penalty for bypassing the electricity use and was placed on curfew between 7pm and 7am for four months.

There will be also be a POCA hearing early next year.