Desperate men who ran a drugs factory in Chester growing almost £100,000 of cannabis will pay back just £981 for their crimes.

Between October 2010 and April 2011 Geoffrey O’Neill, 57, of Helsby, and Nicholas Ellison, 41, of Leigh, set up and ran a large-scale cannabis operation at Silverdale Park, Station Lane in Mickle Trafford.

Now, almost two years after their arrest, the pair will have to pay back just £981 for setting up and running the factory.

The pair also abstracted £9,000 worth of electricity to supply the high-powered lamps used to cultivate the 193 plants – using so much electricity they blew a fuse and started a small fire.

In February last year the pair were sentenced to three years behind bars after pleading guilty to the unlawful production of cannabis and abstraction of electricity.

The pair were ordered to pay back the sum at a proceeds of crime hearing at Chester Crown Court.

Prosecuting, David Jones said during the six-month period the plant had produced about £97,000 worth of cannabis and used £9,000 worth of electricity, but they had little money or valuables which the court could seize.

“O’Neill had £441 in a Santander bank account, Ellison had a Volvo which was estimated at £3,930 when valued,” said Mr Jones, who said the car only reached £450 after being sold for scrap. “The Crown do not want to waste any more money on this.”

During the court case last year, it was revealed O’Neill and Ellison had been struggling financially when they were recruited by drug dealers and asked to set up and run the cannabis factory, being promised a wage of £200 per week, which they never received.

Police swooped on the industrial estate in April 2011.

Police discovered 193 cannabis plants, 18 of which were mother plants and a hydroponics set-up.

They immediately arrested Ellison and O’Neill, who were sat surrounded by 36 plants, pruning and trimming them.

When they were interviewed by police, both men admitted their parts in the cultivation of cannabis, but insisted they were acting alone in the enterprise.

Both men pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.