AN INVERKEITHING man has been told he faces a long jail term after turning a flat into a cannabis farm.

Liam Burnett, 30, of Hillfield Road, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that between October 2, 2017, and January 2 last year, at Struan Drive, Inverkeithing, he produced a controlled drug, cannabis.

Depute fiscal Jade Doig said a Scottish Power worker had gone to the property on January 2.

There appeared to be no-one inside but he could detect a strong smell of cannabis and there was steel wire on the windows keeping them closed.

Police were contacted and officers who attended found the back door was open.

An officer and the Scottish Power employee entered the house. “They found the whole flat had been converted into a cannabis plantation with two areas of growing plants,” said the depute.

The property was secured and the next day, police returned there with a forensics officer.

There was no furniture in the property, which contained 55 cannabis plants in the living room and bedroom.

A resident in the street identified Burnett as someone who he had seen coming to the property regularly.

Burnett’s finger prints and DNA were found in the house.

The depute said the potential value of the plants was £12,000 to £15,000.

Defence solicitor Chris Sneddon said: “He appreciates this is a very serious matter and custody will be in the court’s mind.”

Sheriff Craig McSherry called for reports and Burnett will be sentenced on March 13.

Bail was continued but the sheriff told Burnett: “It’s highly likely you are facing a very, very significant custodial sentence.”