A JURY failed to agree on whether a 59-year-old Raglan farmer was involved in a plot to grow £400,000 worth of cannabis at three locations.

After five hours and 20 minutes at Gloucester Crown Court, the jury said there was no chance of them agreeing on verdicts.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC discharged the jury from the case and gave the prosecution seven days to decide whether to seek a retrial.

Philip Johns, of Wilcae Terrace, denied conspiracy to cultivate cannabis and a further charge of abstracting electricity to power a hydroponic growing system in three containers on his land at Glannau Farm, Lydart.

The jury did agree, however, in the case of John's co-defendant, Paul Gibbard, 35, of School Mews, Matson, Gloucester.

He was found guilty of conspiracy to cultivate cannabis at an industrial unit on the Forest Vale estate in Cinderford.

Judge Tabor bailed him to a date to be fixed for a pre-sentence report and told him a jail term was inevitable.

He said Gibbard would be sentenced at the same time as a third defendant, Robert Ockleton, 23, of Swallow Crescent, Innsworth, who has admitted his role in the plot.

A fourth man, Andrew O'Donnell, from Tenbury Wells, who is said to be the ringleader of the conspiracy, is believed to be on the run abroad.

Prosecutor Ian Dixey told the jury at the start of the case that O'Donnell had allegedly set up three cannabis growing operations - one in Cinderford, one at Glannau Farm, and the other at O'Donnell's own home address at Manor Farm, Oldwood Common, Tenbury Wells.

"Cannabis was grown at these three sites and if the plants had all reached maturity and been sold as street deals it would have generated just under £400,000," Mr Dixey said.