A WARNING has been issued to would-be cannabis farmers after two sizeable operations were busted in remote locations in East Lancashire.

Gavin Crabb, 25, is today starting a three-year jail sentence after being convicted of producing cannabis at a 500-plant operation at Rockcliffe Farm in Bacup.

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He converted a barn at the farm, off Pennine Road, and installed high-powered lights, transformer and growing tents but was raided in April 2013.

An elaborate CCTV system had also been set up to monitor the drugs factory, and the electricity supply had been bypassed, resulting in £10,000 worth of power being illegally obtained.

Three men have also been dealt with over a £120,000 cannabis farm, at Lower Gibfield Farm in Crown Point Road, Burnley, after a “gardener” was arrested by police, after being on the run for eight months.

Adam Slack, 24, insisted he had only attended on three or four occasions but his fingerprint had been found on one of the plant containers, Burnley Crown Court heard.

But since Slack, once himself a cannabis smoker, had gone on the run he had settled down to work for a property maintenance company, and now rented his own property, the court was told.

Judge Jonathan Gibson gave him a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with an 18-week curfew.

Slack, formerly of Hopwood Road, Middleton, admitted producing cannabis. His co-defendants Peter Connor, 40, and Carmine Schiavo, 36, both of Lake View, Ashton Road, Failsworth, Manchester, were each jailed for 15 months for similar offences.

Crabb was originally from Wardle Edge, Rochdale, and had also travelled into East Lancashire from Greater Manchester to help run a cannabis farm.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said anyone found running a cannabis farm would face justice.

He said: “We would urge anyone with any information about drug use to contact police.

“We will investigate any suspicious activity and act on information passed to us by the public to prevent supply in the community.

“Residents should ensure they report anything suspicious so we can investigate.

“Private landlords should also notify us about any concerns they have about unusual behaviour at their properties or by tenants.

“We will continue to work closely with the community to ensure any cannabis farms across the area are found and those running them are brought to justice.”