A man has been jailed after police uncovered a £170,000 cannabis factory at a house near Peterborough city centre.

Marisol Bezati, 20, was arrested at his home in Kent Road, West Town, after the Neighbourhood Support Team carried out a warrant on September 28.

Officers forced entry to the house where they found 206 cannabis plants worth up to about £173,000 growing in bedrooms and the loft.

Bezati appeared at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday (October 27) where he was sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting being concerned in the production of cannabis and abstracting electricity.

Peterborough Matters: Bezati being arrested by police.Bezati being arrested by police. (Image: Cambridgeshire Constabulary)

Detective Constable Andrew Donaldson, who investigated, said: “We will continue to target criminal networks involved in drug dealing and production in our county.

“The links between serious crime and those involved in cannabis cultivation are clear, with the drugs trade often fuelling violence as groups compete against each other for a space in the ‘market’.

“These setups also present threats due to damage that is often caused to the properties themselves with the buildings becoming dangerous, unlawful abstraction of electricity, risks of fires, fumes and water damage.”

Anyone with information or concerns about drugs can report to police online via the dedicated drugs information webpage. Advice about spotting the signs of a cannabis factory can also be found here.