A man who ran a cannabis factory from his Southfields' loft claimed the plants were his dad's when he was rumbled by police.

Thanh Tien Khong is facing jail after he pleaded guilty, at South Western Magistrates' Court on Friday, to owning the plants and to diverting electricity illegally to grow them

His dad Xuan Khong, 55, and a woman Thi Hieu Truong, 50, both had the same charges against them dropped after the son's admission.

Police originally entered 149 Whitlock Drive to look for a missing person.

But, prosecutor Louise Lusack said, police discovered a lot more.

She said: "Police entered looking for a missing person believed to be at the address and when they searched the property.

"When officers went upstairs and into the loft they found 38 plants of cannabis during the search. They also found a metre diverting electricity.

"When Thanh Tien Khong was arrested he told officers in interview it belonged to his father.

"However now he has admitted that it was him, and that his family knew nothing of what he is doing."

Thanh Tien Khong, 27, also admitted to diverting electricity in the value of £220 a day.

Judge Mark Jabitt said: "I'm not going to order committal straight away because of the guilty plea and the amount of plants. But this is a serious case."

A report is currently being prepared for the defendant's sentencing.