Cannabis cultivator caught after neighbour’s house blaze in Woodford Green

A man has been arrested and cautioned after being caught producing cannabis plants by police officers who had been supporting fire crews at a nearby house fire on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old man was arrested after Essex Police were making checks on nearby properties and came across the cannabis plants in a property on Brunel Road, Woodford Green.

The man admitted the offence of producing cannabis and was given a caution. He was released the following morning on May 28.

Firefighters had been tackling a blaze at a neighbour’s property, with the neighbour having to be treated for smoke inhalation in a separate incident.

A statement by Essex Police said: “Police were called to assist firefighters following reports of a fire in a property at Brunel Road - this was at about 4.30pm.

During checks on nearby properties, four cannabis plants were found.”

The man had been arrested in “suspicion of producing a controlled drug.”