A MAN has been jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty to producing cannabis at a home in Long Road, Lowestoft.

Phong Van Duong, 40, a Vietnamese national, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court last Thursday (April 19), and pleaded guilty to the charge. He will be deported after serving the 15-month sentence, less the 57 days he has spent on remand.

Police raided a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Long Road on Tuesday, February 21. All three of the bedrooms contained large quantities of cannabis plants at various stages of growth and officers later counted more than 200 separate plants, estimated to have a street value in excess of �85,000.

Duong was arrested at the property and charged with producing cannabis.

Detective Sgt Karl Storey, from the Territorial Support Team based in Lowestoft which carried out the warrant, said; 'Since the beginning of the year the Territorial Support Team and other officers in the town have made a number of arrests for drugs offences and the jailing of Duong sends a strong message that those involved in the production and supply of cannabis that these offences are treated seriously.

'This find meant we prevented a large amount of cannabis from reaching the streets of Lowestoft.

'We continue to target those involved in the supply of drugs, which is often linked to other crime, and would ask anyone who may have information that may assist to call us on 101.'