A group of businessmen who set up a large-scale cannabis growing operation were caught when police sniffed out the fumes from their extractor fans.

The three men, who had run a fencing business in the South Hams, got back together to set up two grow rooms containing 31 high-yielding plants.

The set up was capable of producing three crops of four kilograms of skunk a year, each with a potential street value of £40,000.

They claimed they were planning to divide the cannabis equally between the three of them and consume it all for personal use.

Gareth Noblett, aged 34, of Torquay Rd, Paignton; Alexander McDonald, aged 44, of Explorer Walk, Torquay, and Joseph Gibbons, aged 32, of Hatfield Road, Torquay, all admitted production of cannabis.

Noblett was jailed for 21 months and the others for 20 months, all suspended for two years. Noblett and McDonald were each ordered to do 180 hours unpaid community work and Gibbons 140 hours with 10 days of rehabilitation activities.

Sentencing at Exeter Crown Court, Judge David Evans told them: ”Can you imagine for a moment how your families would feel if you were going to prison for Christmas. How stupid you have been.”

Mr Brian Fitzherbert, prosecuting, said police passing Noblett’s home on September 13 last year detected a strong smell of cannabis.

He said: "They investigated and found the windows covered up but were able to peer through an air vent and saw plants growing inside.

“They knocked on a door and noticed a light being turned off inside. They opened the front door and found Noblett at the top of the stairs. There were two large tents in two rooms and more plants and ventilation in a third.

“The 31 plants were all in a similar state of growth and at the bud stage and 93.7 grams of cannabis was recovered. McDonald and Gibbon went to the police station to tell the police they were involved.”

The plants had an average yield of 141.49 grams and the crop would have been worth between £26,000 and £43,700 depending on how it was sold. The electricity meter had been by-passed.

Noblett told police the other two were paying him £100 a room to grow the drugs but they said the crop was to be divided evenly but was all for their own use and not to be sold.

Mr Fitzherbert said McDonald and Gibbon were no longer relying on bases of pleas which asserted all the drugs were for their own use.

Mr Peter Coombe, for Gibbon, said he normally works as a carpenter but is unable to do so at the moment because of the pandemic. He has three dependent children under 15.

Mr William Parkhill, for McDonald, said he has responsibility for two children, one of whom is 18 and still living at home. He is also a carpenter and hopes to resume work soon.

Mr Paul Dentith, for Noblett, said he has a young family and had entered a basis of plea that said he was not the main grower.

All three men were partners in a company called G&F Partners LLP, which had registered premises at Bridge Street, Kingsbridge.