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Five facing jail over 'booby trapped' £1m cannabis farm

Five men have been warned they face jail after a £1 million cannabis farm was found on a Black Country industrial estate.

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A woman constable narrowly escaped injury when she was showered in a sulphur-type substance while opening a door during a search of the premises.

She had to remove clothing soaked by the suspected booby trap, which missed her face but left her badly shaken, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Four men were arrested at the scene and a fifth – James Caughey, 26, who rented the unit and whose fingerprint was found there – was arrested almost two months later.

More than 1,000 plants were under cultivation in a building measuring over 114ft (35 metres) long, 39ft (12m) wide and more than 6ft (2m) tall.

There was evidence a crop had been harvested, while 518 plants were nearing full growth alongside a follow up batch of 588.

A police expert estimated that the 518 plants were capable of producing enough cannabis for £375,000 worth of street deals.

With three crops a year that meant the farm was capable of growing cannabis valued at more than £1m annually.

The gang had been renting the premises on the Bluebird Industrial Estate in Park Lane, Fallings Park, since September 2014.

They were caught when a manager of the estate called to follow up a complaint from another tenant on March 29.

Miss Jasmine Ferguson, defending, insisted the device on the door wasn't a 'booby trap,' but meant to mask the tell tale smell of the drugs. Recorder Barry Berlin adjourned the case until next month.

Damion Clabby, of Northanger Road, Eamonn Caughey from Greenwood Avenue, both Acocks Green; James Caughey of Stratford Road, Hall Green, Hawkins from Hattersley Grove and Johnson of Maxfield Road, both Tyseley, all admitted producing cannabis. They were remanded on bail.

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