Man grew cannabis plants

Ngoc Van Tram, 38, of no fixed address, was spotted at an address in Sidley Street in Bexhill on Monday after police executed a search warrant.

Prosecutor David O'Driscoll said officers searched two adjoining properties in the street.

He said: "These houses had been extensively modified to cut out natural light and most of the rooms were made out for the cultivation of cannabis plants.

"There were something in the order of 600 plants in growth.

"This defendant was effectively acting as the caretaker or gardener for these properties.

"The account he gave to police revealed he was doing this under instruction from someone else who promised him a percentage of money when the crops were harvested."

Tram admitted one charge of producing cannabis when he appeared before Hastings magistrates on Tuesday.

Mark Glendenning, defending, said: "He was simply the patsy for a much more sophisticated organisation.

"He came to this area some two months ago having been promised a sizeable sum of money compared to the job he was doing in a fish and chip shop.

"He has debts to those who facilitated his entry into this country. Despite the promise of money he never received any."

Magistrates sent him to Lewes Crown Court to be sentenced at a later date to be arranged.

Tram was remanded in custody in the meantime.