TENANTS TURNED HOUSE INTO CANNABIS FACTORY

A landlord discovered his tenants had turned his house into a
cannabis factory after he paid a routine visit.

Nearly 100 plants were found in the property, in Highfields,
Leicester, on Wednesday afternoon.

It is thought the plants could have produced drugs with a street value
of up to UKP100,000.

The tenants were nowhere to be seen and the owner of 25 Evington Road
alerted police after making the discovery.

Officers found pots of plants - some of which were several feet tall -
on both floors of the two-storey house, along with switched-on heating
lamps and other equipment used for cultivating the Class C drug.

It appeared that nobody had been living in the house and it was being
used purely as a cannabis factory.

Some people living nearby said there had been a smell of the drug
lingering in the road for days and that the tenants - believed to be
two men - were rarely seen there.

The plants and equipment were due to be taken away yesterday as
evidence. Forensic teams were due to visit the house to check for clues.

Sgt Sean Pepper said: "We were called after the landlord turned up at
his address.

"He discovered several rooms containing a lot of cannabis plants along
with equipment for cultivating cannabis.

"We are now planning to clear the house out and our enquiries into who
was cultivating the cannabis will be ongoing."

The landlord of the house spoke to the Leicester Mercury only to say
he was "shocked" by the discovery.

Neighbours said they were disturbed to learn that people had been
growing drugs on their doorsteps.

Brian Simmonds, 38, who lives nearby, was picking up his daughter from
a babysitter when police arrived at the house.

He said: "There was a strong smell outside the house and I've heard
there were lots of plants in there.

"I'm particularly shocked because this is a really family-oriented
place, and everybody has kids. It's concerning that someone would do
that around here."

A 33-year-old father in the house next door said: "I've seen one man
coming and going from the house.

"He was quiet and friendly and he seemed to be a nice
man.

"It has come as a shock because it's a quiet area and we don't have
problems with drugs.

"We've not seen anything suspicious going on."

An elderly man who lives a few doors away said: "This is a quiet area
and we don't get any drugs around here. It's shocking."

Yesterday's haul, the latest in a string, could be worth as much as
UKP100,000.

No-one has yet been arrested.