A FATHER and son who grew cannabis to feed their addictions will return to court to be sentenced later this month.

It follows the recovery of 20 mature cannabis plants by police executing a search warrant at the home of Walter Seal, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

The plants were growing in a garden shed and hydroponic lighting and watering systems were in use.

Police also found 24 seedlings in a bedroom cupboard of the house, in Skirlaw Road, during the search on November 10, last year.

As a result of the finds, police visited the home of Seal’s son, Wayne Mark, in Beaumont Road, Newton Aycliffe, where they found a small amount of herbal cannabis and paraphernalia for cannabis use.

Durham Crown Court heard that both men said they were growing the drugs to satisfy their own habits.

Forty-one-year-old Wayne Seal admitted producing a Class B controlled drug with his father during the short hearing.

Sixty-five-year-old Walter Seal admitted cultivating cannabis at a previous hearing before South Durham magistrates, who committed his case for sentence to the crown court.

Basis of pleas were presented to the court along the lines of their respective admissions, that the growing operation was to provide both men with a ready supply of cannabis for their own needs.

The court was told Wayne Seal has a previous similar conviction.

Judge Richard Lowden adjourned sentence on father and son pending preparation of a Probation Service report about Wayne Seal. A presentence report has already been prepared on Walter Seal.

Bailing both to return for sentence on June 27, Judge Lowden told them: “The fact I’m bailing you is no promise as to what might happen at the end of the month.”

Judge Lowden also agreed to the instigation of Proceeds of Crime proceedings against both, with a further hearing scheduled at the court on August 30.