A FORMER soldier has admitted growing cannabis in a huge factory above a city-centre shop.

The cannabis warehouse, which housed hundreds of plants and was one of the biggest ever discovered in Brighton and Hove, was given away by a leaking pipe.

Carlos Perez pleaded guilty to producing the Class C drug in rooms above the Paint Emporium in Western Road, Hove.

He also admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply at the same address between January 28 last year and February 3 this year.

Perez denied causing criminal damage to the floors and ceilings of the property as a result of the leaking pipe.

The charge will not be proceeded with, Hove Crown Court heard.

John Upton, defending, asked for pre-sentence reports to be prepared on Perez, of Woodlands Close, Horsham.

Mr Upton said: "He is a man of previous good character who has an unblemished military record."

Judge Anthony Niblett adjourned sentencing until October 13 and warned Perez that all options including prison were being considered.

Hundreds of cannabis plants were discovered when police raided the Paint Emporium in February.

They were alerted by passers-by after a hydroponic system used to water and feed the crop sprang a leak. Water dripped from the rooms housing the operation and started leaking into the shop below. The flood spread across the shop floor and seeped under the front door.

Passers-by alerted the emergency services and police officers discovered that rooms above the shop had been knocked together to make two large factory floors. The hydroponic growing equipment, controlled by timers, provided the plants with water, feed and artificial sunshine.

Hundreds of plants in various stages of growth covered the floors and there were scores of seedlings. Cultivated plants were strung up on walls and ceilings to dry.

The operation was so big, it took officers took four hours to completely search the property.

After the raid, neighbours told The Argus they had been unaware they had been living and working alongside the largest drugs factory ever found in Hove.

David Donno, who runs the nearby Naked Eye art gallery, said: "I have smelt cannabis in the street sometimes but just thought it was people using it as they walked by.

"It was a bit of a shock to find out what had been going on."