A MAN wanted for questioning after police raided an alleged East Yorkshire drugs factory five years ago has been extradited back to Britain and is set to face the courts.

Police said they wanted to speak to Michael Walsh, 62, after a National Crime Squad operation at a disused airfield hangar at Sands Lane, Breighton, near Selby, in March 2000.

It was alleged that they found more than 1,000 skunk cannabis plants with a total street value of more than £400,000, as well as £25,000-worth of equipment.

In April, the Evening Press revealed that Mr Walsh, from Breighton, had been arrested in Spain, after intelligence led detectives to the country's Alhaurn area, near the Costa del Sol.

Today, we can reveal he is back in England, and will appear before Hull Crown Court next Friday, charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis, conspiracy to supply cannabis, and having an offensive weapon.

Three men have already been jailed in connection with the investigation.

A National Crime Squad spokesman said today: "We have worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Spanish authorities to bring Mr Walsh back to the UK from Spain."

Last August, Stephen Gilpin, formerly of Breighton, was jailed for four years for his "manager's role" at the factory. He had been on the run, before handing himself in at York Police Station.

John Kelly, formerly of Bridlington, and Andrew Markham, formerly of Brigg, had previously been jailed six years and six-and-a-half years respectively. But both had their sentences cut to four-and-a-half years at the Appeal Court in London, in 2002.

At Gilpin's trial, the court heard the factory was a "very large, very sophisticated" operation. There were plants on two floors, with a nursery containing young plants, a drying room, water tanks and special lighting.

Updated: 10:39 Thursday, August 11, 2005