TWO men are behind bars after police found a "commercial" cannabis set-up on an industrial estate.

The unit in Crook, County Durham, contained tents rigged with lamps, heaters, ventilators and fertiliser.

More than 50 plants were found, but there was evidence of earlier crops or plans to grow even more.

Judge Howard Crowson, at Teesside Crown Court, said text messages on mobile phones was crucial evidence.

Lee Irwin, 39, of Beaumont Street, Bishop Auckland, admitted looking after the plants as "a cultivator".

Kelvin Carlyle, 44, of Brookside Avenue, in nearby Crook, was found guilty of involvement after a trial.

The court heard how security boss Carlyle bankrolled the venture, which was discovered in June 2013.

His lawyer, Jonathan Harley, said a prison sentence would put his company and 90 employees at risk.

Carlyle, who has five children and two grandchildren, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for producing Class B drugs.

Mr Harley said: "He has an awful lot to lose today. He understands he is teetering on the brink of that."

Irwin, who works customising and spraying cars, was given a 16-month sentence for the same offence.

Christopher Morrison, mitigating, said he was unemployed at the time and was paid £1,000 to cultivate the crop.

He has twice been convicted in the past for his part in cannabis growing, and was at the unit when police raided.

Mr Morrison told the court: "In his words, he was stony broke . . . but since this, he has gone straight.

"He is an individual with a very strong work ethic. A custodial sentence would ruin his business."

Judge Crowson described the set-up on the Castle Way industrial estate as "a commercial enterprise" with fans and insulated tents.

He told Carlyle: "He acted at your direction and you kept your distance from the premises."

The judge said the farm was capable of producing "substantial" quantities of drugs, and more than £4,500 worth of harvested plants were found in boxes during the search.