A man has been jailed for three years after running a huge cannabis factory in a Sutton flat, where he grew plants with a combined street value of roughly £60,000.

Michael Draisey, 48, cultivated the drug from a property in Killick House in Crown Road.

When police raided the flat on January 9, 2014, they found 67 plants nearing maturity, but Draisey was not arrested until nearly a month later after a media appeal.

FROM FEB 2014: SCARRED MAN WANTED BY POLICE IN CONNECTION WITH COLLINGWOOD ESTATE CANNABIS FACTORY IN SUTTON

He was found guilty of producing cannabis, stealing electricity, and possession of cocaine at Croydon Crown Court on February 20 this year.

Your Local Guardian:

The factory was found in a room at the front of the property

Hydroponic equipment as well as lighting and filters were rigged up in the flat, and personal belongings were found in a room at the back.

Nobody was inside during the raid.

After a tip-off from a member of the public, police arrested Draisey at the Butterchurn pub in Erskine Road, Sutton,  in March 2014.

When approached by officers he was asked if he had any drugs on him.

Draisey then put his hand down his trousers and pulled out a bag of cocaine.