A MAN jailed for his role in a £300,000 cannabis farm in Burnham has failed in his bid to have his sentenced slashed.

Donald Lovesey, 53, was one of three men caught by police after they raided a unit at Springfield Industrial Estate in November 2014.

Lovesey admitted cannabis production and was jailed for four years at Chelmsford Crown Court in October last year.

At a hearing at London’s Court of Appeal this week his bid to have the sentence reduced was rejected.

The appeal court heard the unit was 'adapted for the purpose of growing cannabis on an extensive scale’.

The 403 plants and just under three-and-a-half kilos of dried cannabis found had a street value of between £215,000 and £325,000.

His lawyers argued his role was that of a mere 'gardener' and that his jail term was far too tough.

A co-defendant had got a much lower sentence - two-and-a-half years - for the same offence, the court was told.

But Judge Ford said the sentencing judge was 'perfectly entitled' to find that Lovesey was more than just a gardener.

In a letter to the court, Lovesey admitted that he was involved in setting up the cannabis farm before suffering a heart attack.

The judge, sitting with Lady Justice Sharp and Mr Justice Jay, ruled that Lovesey's punishment was 'justifiable'.

His co-defendant's softer punishment was 'no valid basis for disturbing this otherwise appropriate sentence', he ruled.

His co-defendant Patrick McArdle, 37, was part of a larger criminal network and was jailed for a total of five years and six months at Woolwich Crown Court in February.