A PONTYPOOL man showed police officers his home grown cannabis production which consisted of 69 plants, a court heard.

Mark Ponting, aged 42, of Viaduct Court, Cwmynyscoy, was charged with production of cannabis and abstracting electricity.

He pleaded guilty to both counts at Cwmbran Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Rob Simkins, prosecuting, told the court that 70 cannabis plants can produce three kilos of cannabis. He said that police officers visited Ponting's house in Pontypool on May 8 where they noticed the smell of cannabis.

The defendant admitted growing cannabis and showed officers the plants which were in a 8ft square tent in his bedroom.

Mr Simkins said: “He unzipped the tent and showed officers the plants. He was very helpful as far as the police were concerned."

He also showed officers the cables where he had diverted electricity from his meter. He was arrested and officers seized 28 cannabis plants of three foot and 41 juvenile plants which were six inches tall.

A Western Power Distribution worker confirmed to police that the electricity had been illegally bypassed.

Mr Simkins told the court that the cannabis was for Ponting's own personal as the defendant smoked between five and 20 spliffs a day.

He said: "The defendant said he didn't have money to go to drug dealers and decided to grow his own drugs."

Ponting told officers he knew how to bypass electricity as he was a qualified electrical engineer.

Ponting’s solicitor made no representations on his behalf.

Ponting will appear for sentencing on June 12 at Newport Crown Court. He was granted unconditional bail.