Five people from two families have been jailed after police raided two houses and discovered fully kitted out cannabis factories with flourishing plants.

One of the linked factories in Mountview, Borden, was operated by Susanna Rye, 41, in full view of her three young children.

The other in Falcon Court, Peregrine Drive, Sittingbourne, was set up by Antony Seager, 49, and assisted by his two sons Rhys, 22, and 20-year-old Kyle.

Rye, her son Jason Taylor, 21, and Rhys and Kyle Seager have now been locked up for various drugs offences.

All except Taylor admitted conspiracy to produce and supply cannabis.

Rye also admitted possessing ecstasy and amphetamine sulphate. Kyle Seager, now of Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne, admitted possessing ecstasy.

Taylor admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Rhys Seager admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possessing ecstasy.

Rye was jailed for 16 months, Taylor for eight months and Kyle Seager for 10 months youth custody.

Antony Seager was jailed for 16 months, despite the judge hearing about his “frail” health.

He was seriously injured in a car crash in 1991 and now walks with a stick and suffers “cluster” headaches. He was said to be using some of the cannabis to “self-medicate”.

Rhys Seager was jailed for three years and four months, which was made concurrent to eight years and four months for aggravated burglary and associated offences.

Maidstone Crown Court was told Rye was at home with her three children on May 12 last year when police carried out a raid.

Prosecutor Peter Forbes said drugs were found in a bedroom. Asked about the loft, Rye admitted: “There is quite a bit up there - 20-30oz I think.” She asked: “Could I end up going to prison for this?”

Officers seized 771g of skunk cannabis. Two bags of cannabis were in a child’s rucksack. Also found were small amounts of herbal cannabis, amphetamine sulphate and cocaine.

Mr Forbes said there was a cultivation set-up in the loft with 18 plants growing, the possible yield from which was worth about £8,614.

If three or four crops were achieved in a year the amount could be up to £34,560.

When officers raided the house in Peregrine Drive the same day, Rhys Seager was tending to cannabis plants in a bedroom.

The window had been boarded over. The walls, floor and ceiling were covered with plastic sheeting.

The 20 plants seized had a possible yield of £9,600. If there were three to four crops the amount could be as much as £38,400.

A bag contained 19.2g of skunk cannabis. There was also 14g of cocaine in Rhys Seager’s bedroom and ecstasy in Kyle Seager’s bedroom.

Antony Seager told police he bought the equipment on eBay. The cannabis, he claimed, was originally for his self-medication.

Passing sentence, Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said: "This was an ongoing operation. I take the view in all your cases a sentence of immediate custody is demanded. Nothing less will do."

He told Rye: "There is significant aggravation in the fact this cannabis operation was conducted by you at your address where you lived with your children.

"I very much hope you will approach your sentence constructively and make use of the support available to you."

After sentencing, investigating officer, Detective Constable Iain Joyce, said: "This group was running an organised operation of producing and supplying drugs and I’m pleased we have been able to bring them to justice and to stop them from selling drugs in and around Kent.

"Jason Taylor’s conspiracy conviction shows that offenders can be targeted and convicted of drug offences even though they may not be found in possession of controlled drugs and that such people can and do, form lines of inquiry for the police."