TWO men have been jailed after a cannabis factory was found in a Bournemouth home.

Dorian Ferko, 21, and Fation Marishta, 22, who live in Richmond Wood Road, were arrested after police received an anonymous tip-off on May 15.

The caller told officers there was a factory at the defendant's address. When officers attended, they noted a "strong smell" coming from the open rear doors of the property.

When the officers began a search of the address, they discovered three rooms on the ground floor and four rooms upstairs were being used to grow cannabis.

They also discovered chemicals and an elaborate ventilation system. The property's electrics had been bypassed.

Ferko and Marishta were inside the house when officers began their search. Both made an attempt to run away.

Marishta was arrested in the garden of the property, while Ferko was detained nearby.

The defendants first appeared before magistrates in Poole on Thursday, May 17 charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis. They were remanded into custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on June 14.

During the hearing, both pleaded guilty to the charge and were sentenced to 16 months in prison.

A second charge of dishonestly using without due authority a quantity of electricity was not proceeded with by prosecutors.

Detective Constable Katherine Rawlings, of Bournemouth CID, said: “Dorian Ferko and Fation Marishta were running an elaborate factory to enable them to grow and cultivate cannabis with the aim of it being sold on the open market.

“I would like to thank the member of public who contacted Dorset Police and alerted us to the property.

“I hope the sentences handed out by the court will issue a very stark warning that offences such as this will not be tolerated and you will be dealt with robustly.”