A 41-year-old father of four who set up three cannabis farms in properties in Thetford has been jailed for 51 months.

Sentencing Niket Jadhav, Judge Emma Peters said he stood to make “tens of thousands pounds” profit from the  “sophisticated commercial scale” enterprise.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that two of the farms were in neighbouring flats in York Way, Thetford and the third was in a house in Spindle Drive in the town.

One of the flats in York Way had 92 plants and the other one had 80 plants while there were 67 plants at the property in Spindle Drive.

More than 200 plants were found across the three farms by police.More than 200 plants were found across the three farms by police. (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

Police who raided the premises in January found sophisticated growing equipment including hydroponic tents, fans and lighting in the properties.

Jadhav 41, of Mingay Road in Thetford, admitted three offences of producing cannabis.

Graeme Molloy for Jadhav said his client had four young children who would suffer when he was separated from them during his inevitable prison sentence.

He said Jadhav, who has no previous convictions, accepted that he had made his choices and only had himself to blame for the situation he found himself in.