A drug dealer who was caught growing £60,000 worth of cannabis in an industrial unit has been jailed.

Richard Lattimer, 43 and formerly of Withyham Road in Groombridge, rented a space in the Morley Road industrial site in Tonbridge, growing dozens of illegal plants.

His brother, Andrew Lattimer, 41, of the same address, received a suspended sentence for his role in the crime.

Reports of a suspicious smell caused police to search the property on December 16, 2016.

Inside, police discovered the crop, along with fans, heaters and timers around the plants to keep them at optimum growing temperature.

In total, 78 plants were seized, along with letters and documentation connecting the Lattimer brothers to the rental and maintenance of the property.

Both were arrested and denied all charges.

Richard Lattimer was found guilty of producing a controlled Class B drug, putting him in breach of a previous suspended sentence for producing cannabis dating back to 2015.

On Tuesday, he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

His younger brother Andew was found guilty of being concerned in the production of a controlled class B drug.

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.

Sgt Andy Miller said: "This was a substantial grow in the middle of a busy industrial area.

"It was a well maintained cultivation, set up to produce as much cannabis as possible and the street value of these drugs, would have been in excess of £60,000.

"Richard Lattimer was given a second chance by the courts in 2015 but chose to ignore it" - Sgt Andy Miller

"Unfortunately for both these men, their criminal enterprise also led to the distinctive smell of cannabis escaping from the property, meaning it wasn’t hard at all for our officers to locate the plants.

"Richard Lattimer was given a second chance by the courts in 2015 but chose to ignore it. He is now paying the price with a substantial sentence."