AN ABERTILLERY man who illegally produced more than 2 kg of cannabis has been ordered to pay back some of his £38,000 worth of profits.

37-year-old Michael Turner, of Parsons Row, Blaina, was yesterday ordered to pay back £2,808 of the £38,345.70 he benefited from while producing cannabis.

Turner had been charged in 2014 with the production of class B drug cannabis after he was found growing plants in his house. He had produced 2.4 kg of cannabis.

He pleaded guilty at Newport Crown Court on May 1 last year. On July 1 he was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to do 120 hours of community service and pay £250 costs.

Turner appeared in Cardiff Crown Court yesterday for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing. He was represented by defence barrister Will Cordingley.

Prosecution barrister Martyn Kelly told the court how the counsel had agreed the total benefit to Turner was £38,345.70 following his activities growing and selling the drug.

But the court heard how the amount Turner had available to pay back was just £2,808, including the money from the sale of his Volkswagon Golf car for £748.

Mr Kelly told the court: “The defendant does appear as a half owner of a property in Gladstone Road.

“This house was purchased in 2001 by the defendant’s partner. In actual fact, apart from a small cash contribution, he has not made any significant contribution to the property whatsoever.”

Judge Neil Bidder told Turner: “I find that the available amount is £2,808 so I am going to make a confiscation order in the sum of £2,808 and will allow one month to pay, if not you will face two months in prison”.