A man has been jailed for four years for growing cannabis in a house in Kings Langley.

Paul Lampey, of Ludford Street, in Crewe, appeared at St Albans Court on Thursday, December 19.

The Abbots Langley Safer Neighbourhood Team discovered that there were around 200 cannabis plants being grown inside a property that Lampey was renting in Hunton Bridge Hill on November 1, 2012.

The 34-year-old was suspected of the crime and was later arrested by Thames Valley Police on January 28, 2013 after his details were circulated to other forces.

He was then connected to a supply of cannabis after his fingerprints were matched to those found on a box containing 7.2 kilograms of street-ready cannabis.

The drugs were found inside a van which was stopped by police on the M25 on August 17, 2012, and the cannabis had an estimated street value of tens of thousands of pounds.

Lampey pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Three years for the cultivation of cannabis and four years for the supply of cannabis, to run concurrently.

Detective constable Paul Rowley, of the Rickmansworth Local Crime Group, led the investigation in relation to the Cultivation of Cannabis, and detective constable Caroline Bright, of Rickmansworth Local Crime Group, led the investigation in relation to the Supply of Cannabis.

DC Rowley said: "This is a great result. The Abbots Langley Safer Neighbourhood Team discovered the cannabis factory whilst on patrol and were then able to identify Lampey as living at the property.

"Through help from colleagues at Thames Valley Police we were able to arrest Lampey for that crime and later identify him for being associated to the dealing of cannabis.

"As a result, a large amount of cannabis has been removed from circulation and a dealer has been put in prison."

Anyone with information about suspicious behaviour or suspected drug dealing can call police on 101 or they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.