AN ELDERLY couple were caught with a drugs factory in their home.

Christine Hurley, 72, allowed her partner Peter Fardell, 58, to grow cannabis plants in the terraced home they shared in Worthing.

The unassuming mock Tudor terrace in Sompting Road looks much the same as its neighbours.

Rows of porcelain ornaments fill the cottage front garden – but behind the front door Hurley and Fardell were hiding a professional scale drugs operation.

The pair pleaded guilty to drugs offences at Hove Crown Court on Tuesday. Fardell admitting producing cannabis and Hurley admitted allowing their home to be used to grow drugs.

Prosecutor Nicola Shannon said police found more than 160 plants as wells as bags full of the dried drug.

Fardell tried to claim that Hurley had not benefited from the sale of the drugs. However Crown prosecutors said they did not accept his claims as they were a couple living in a shared home.

A further hearing will have to be held to decide the fact of the case.

Rowan Jenkins, defending Fardell, said: “The reality of this case is that he in fact is a keen gardener and enjoys growing plants and was growing them for himself and a friend.”

But Ms Shannon told the court: “These two were partners and living together.

“A search warrant was executed and 162 plants were found, 42 were mature and 120 less mature.

“Five bags of dried cannabis were found by the officers and gave an indication of the previous harvest. We are satisfied this was a successful production, not a case of amateur gardening.”

One of the couple’s neighbours told The Argus: “They just look an ordinary nice old couple. I never would have thought they were doing anything like that.

“Maybe then needed to stretch their pensions a bit further.”

A trial of fact, known as a Newton hearing, will be heard to decide whether Hurley benefited financially from Fardell’s drugs operation.

Judge Jeremy Gold QC said that given the pair’s age and previous good character he would allow probation officials to assess them before deciding a suitable sentence on May 12.