A CHEPSTOW man led police to a cannabis farm at his house, where they found cannabis with a street value of £22,000, a court heard yesterday.

Ian Varley told an officer: “Listen I need to tell you as I can’t take it no more. I’ve got a load of cannabis in my house,”Cardiff Crown Court was told.

The jury heard police were called to a report of a disturbance on Alpha Road, Bulwark, in the early hours of July 21 last year where Varley, 37, of St George Road, was found.

Giving evidence yesterday, PC Kelly Andrews said she found Varley bare chested, intoxicated, with blood on him and with cuts to his forearm.

She told the jury the defendant confessed there was cannabis plants at his home and men “with knives and guns.”

“He told us there were cannabis plants there and the Taliban involved and you are all dead,” PC Andrews said.

Sargent Richard Dibley said he also attended the disturbance and the two officers went to Varley’s house, where he let them in.

Sgt Dibley said Varley opened the door to two rooms, which contained a large number of cannabis plants. He could hear an electric motor and there were hose pipes from a water butt in the bathroom, which appeared to be a watering system.

Prosecutor Laurence Jones said 113 plants were discovered, 44 of which could have been sold on the street for a total of £22,000.

The larger number of plants could not be valued, Mr Jones added, as they were in a poor condition.

The court heard Varley’s landlady estimated £26,000 of damage had been caused to the house, as copper piping was missing, the boiler was ripped out, the electrics needed to be rewired and there were various holes created.

Varley has pleaded not guilty to producing cannabis, being concerned in the production of cannabis, criminal damage and abstracting electricity.

Proceeding.