THE home of former newcastle United midfielder Steve Watson was turned into a cannabis factory by a couple who were renting the property, a court heard yesterday.

The footballer's house in the Darras Hall area of Ponteland, Northumberland, was home to 55 skunk plants owned by failed businessman Andrew Deacon and his girlfriend, Julie French.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that since spring last year Watson had rented the Runnymede Road home, which he had never lived in, to the couple and knew nothing about the skunk farm.

Police discovered the garage had been equipped with greenhouses and powerful electric grow lamps to feed the crop, which was due to be harvested when the drug squad swooped.

Another property, which was owned by French, in Meadow Road, Lemington, was searched and that housed 24 plants.

The court heard how the plants in both factories would have been capable of producing 5.4kg of high-quality skunk cannabis with a street value of more than £30,000.

Euan Duff, prosecuting, said: "The Crown says this was quite clearly a sophisticated, well-designed and well-executed successful cannabis-producing scheme.

Deacon, 38, who was made bankrupt after his clothing business collapsed, admitted conspiracy to cultivate cannabis and possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

French, 47, who has a hair replacement consultancy, admitted conspiracy to cultivate cannabis on the basis the extent of her involvement was watering the plants.

She was ordered to complete a 24- month community rehabilitation order, 100 hours community service and £500 compensation.

Paul Caulfield, mitigating, said there were people "higher up the chain" in control of the cannabis operation and neither Deacon nor French made any profit from their involvement.

Judge John Evans sentenced Deacon to three-and-a-half years behind bars, but said French could be spared jail because of her limited involvement.