A man who grew cannabis in his loft has been ordered to pay more than £79,000.
Officers found 226 plants with a street value of up to £189,000 in the loft of a top floor flat in Westborough Road, Westcliff.

Christopher Tame was arrested at the scene and charged with cannabis production; abstracting electricity; acquiring, using or possession of criminal property; and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

The 41-year-old, formerly of Wallace Street, Shoeburyness, admitted production of cannabis but denied the other charges.

But he was found guilty by a jury at Basildon Crown Court on April 6 last year and jailed for four years in total.

A hearing was held at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday, January 23 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Tame was found to have benefited from his crime by £165,000 and confiscation order was made for his available assets of £79,451.53. If he fails to pay, he could face another two years in jail.