A SINGLE man described as a “brilliant” father-of-four was jailed for a year yesterday for running an underground cannabis factory in a sleepy village.

Paul Wells, 44, who lived in Beckley, near Oxford, hid the growing room under the garage of his house in the High Street.

The former car parts salesman’s daughter wept as he waved goodbye to her and his son at Oxford Crown Court after being sentenced.

One of Wells’ neighbours told the Oxford Mail: “He was the nicest guy. He worked hard to take care of his children and he doesn’t deserve this.”

Wells raised the children alone after the death of his wife – their mother – nine years ago, but disability left him unable to work.

His stepfather, who lived next door, said Wells quit his job because of his crippling and painful ankylosing spondylitis – a form of spinal arthritis.

Wells also had type one diabetes, suffered from depression and was on disability benefits. He had no previous criminal convictions.

Police raided his home on August 7, 2014. In the house they found just one plant, but then discovered 42 more worth £45,000 in the basement beneath the garage.

Wells’ stepfather, who asked not to be named, said the garage used to be the village shop and the basement was used to store butter in the days before refrigeration.

Wells pleaded guilty to one charge of producing the Class B drug in January.

It emerged that he had been running the operation with a partner who had taken most of the money who Wells refused to name.

Two of Wells’ children sat in court as his defence barrister Robert Lindsey told Judge Patrick Eccles: “He has apologised to the court for what he has done, and he is ashamed.

“He feels he has let himself and his children down.”

Judge Eccles told Wells the fact he had the plants in the house where his children lived was an aggravating factor against him.

But he went on: “Most of the money was taken by your partner, who you have refused to name.

“You took some money from this activity to supplement your benefits but it can’t be proved that money was substantial.

“You agreed to operate this for someone who you knew was a drug dealer so you were conscious this drug was going to be put into the community, but you turned a blind eye. You were exploited.”

The judge said Wells had deceived his stepfather, who had nonetheless wrote a letter in support of his stepson.

He sentenced Wells to 12 months in prison, of which he will serve at least six months, and ordered him to pay a £100 victims’ surcharge.

Wells’ stepfather said: “He did brilliantly bringing up the kids.”