THIS picture shows the scale of the drugs operation that grew from a mother's battle to cope with the grief over her dead son.

Julie Watmough started growing cannabis to deal with her depression following the horrific death of her teenage son David Kerslake in 2006.

And she has now been warned she faces jail after expanding it into a potential £500,000 business. The 42-year-old grew up to four crops a year and used her husband's failing building firm as a front to launder up to £250,000 a year from selling the drugs.

She set up a large-scale growing operation at her home near Tiverton and ran it for more than two years until she was raided by the police.

Exeter Crown Court heard how she started growing drugs to treat herself for depression after her son was killed in a crash near Silverton as he drove two friends back from watching a band.

Struggling to cope with her grief, Watmough took to growing drugs to deal with her depression but it developed into a "commercial operation."

After the operation grew, she was able to pay off part of her mortgage with the cash it generated, Exeter Crown Court was told.

Watmough, of Burlescombe, Tiverton, admitted producing cannabis and possessing the drug with intent to supply.

She and her husband Harry, 47, of the same address, both admitted concealing, disguising, converting or transferring the proceeds of crime.

He admitted being concerned in her production of cannabis.

Judge Graham Cottle adjourned sentence on both for reports, but told them: "It is an act of mercy to release you on bail. This offence will inevitably lead to a custodial sentence. The only issue is how long it will be."

Richard Crabb, prosecuting, said: "This was large-scale production which took place for more than two years and very substantial cash sums were used to benefit their lifestyle.

"The evidence is that with three or four crops a year their benefit would have been a minimum of £150,000 and a possible £250,000 a year, so large sums are potentially involved.

"He ran an unprofitable building business and was laundering the proceeds.

"At one point £20,000 was paid off the mortgage and high-value consumer items were purchased.

"Large cash sums were going through the company accounts which did not come from building. For this part of the world, it represents quite a large-scale commercial operation."

Jonathan Barnes, defending, said: "There is strong personal mitigation, not least that Julie Watmough embarked on this enterprise following the death of her son in 2006 and consequent depression.

"It developed and as it went on it became what she accepts was the commercial production of cannabis."

He said the couple had to make arrangements for a child before they were sentenced.

Investigating officer in the case, DC Heidi Voaden of Tiverton CID, said they were pleased with the result but did not want to comment any further until after sentencing.