Police find naked man tending to his cannabis factory

Officers found 638 plants growing in the Hastings unit rented by 42-year-old David Churchward, a crop worth up to an estimated £229,000.

He admitted producing cannabis but told officers he had started growing the Class C drug to help his wife who suffers from bad health and finds it difficult to sleep.

He was given a suspended jail sentence after a judge decided it was unlikely he would offend again.

Marcus Fletcher, prosecuting, told the court: "On April 9 last year, police executed a search warrant at unit 12, Moorhurst Road. "They found the defendant naked. They also found a sophisticated factory producing cannabis plants."

It is believed Churchward was naked when police arrived so he would not get the smell of cannabis on his clothing.