A large scale cannabis grower has been told to pay back the assets he has left, worth £384,120 or face another three years behind bars.

Josef MacNamara, who posed as a £100,000 a year aircraft engineer, made more than £2.5m from his illegal trade.

He was jailed for four years and four months in March 2023 at Exeter Crown Court.

On Thursday, MacNamara, 51, of Sandford, who was convicted of producing cannabis and converting criminal property, reappeared in court to face a Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation hearing.

Judge David Evans was told MacNamara had benefited by £2,584,281 from his crimes – and had assets worth £384,120 which included a piece of land to be sold.

Police also seized three cars, a van and a trail bike worth £115,000 which were to be auctioned off.

The judge said the £384,000 must be paid in three months or MacNamara will face another three years behind bars in default.

When police raided the compound in 2020 they found a professional cannabis farm which had been running for three tears and was capable of producing eight to 13 crops a year.