A MAN from Patchway has been jailed for three-and-a-half-years for moving and hiding the body of a navy veteran to set up a cannabis factory.

Paul Jackson, 40, of Charlton Leaze, illegally moved the body of his neighbour Nicholas Clark, after he died from natural causes, and began growing the drugs in the Royal Navy veteran’s home.

The remains of the 63-year-old former helicopter engineer were found in April 2015, wrapped in tarpaulin, and under debris in a yard behind a former gym in Patchway, and were identified by a steel pin in his hip.

Mr Jackson was sentenced in Bristol Crown Court today, after admitting charges of preventing a lawful burial, theft and allowing the production of cannabis.

Meanwhile, his friend Anthony Whillier, of Royal Victoria Park, Bristol, was sentenced to a two-year suspended prison sentence after admitting cannabis production, as well as 240 hours of unpaid work.

Mr Jackson also admitted in an interview to taking money from Mr Clark’s bank account after his death.

Senior investigating officer DCI Mike Williams said: “[Mr Clark] deserved respect for loyally serving his country but after he died from natural causes, his so-called friend and neighbour Paul Jackson treated his body like a piece of rubbish.

“Nick’s remains weren’t found until the yard behind the gym was cleared by the landlord after it’d been recovered from his tenant Whillier.

“Our enquiries forensically linked Jackson and Whillier to the cannabis factory inside Nick’s home and uncovered financial transactions showing Jackson had been taking money from Nick’s account after his death.

“Nick’s family have been devastated by the way his body was treated after he died and it’s hard to comprehend how anybody could treat a human being in this callous way.

“We aren’t able to say exactly when Nick died, but we do know he was last seen at hospital in February after undergoing an operation. Because he wasn’t reported as missing, it’s very likely his remains would have remained undetected if the yard hadn’t been cleared.

“This is a tragic set of circumstances and my thoughts are very much with Nick’s family who’ve been left to come to terms with his death and the resulting grim and selfish actions of Jackson.”

Following the sentencing, the family of Mr Clark have said in a statement: “It’s devastating to know that Nick’s body was treated with such crudeness.

“The lack of respect shown by the perpetrators, by setting up a cannabis factory in his personal home while depriving his family of his personnel and financial effects, is beyond comprehension. 

 “While Nick may have died in natural circumstances, the actions of the perpetrators to move his body from the home he loved and leave it in the backyard of a disused shop, showed a complete lack of respect for any human being, let alone someone classed as a friend. 

“Nick deserved to have his human rights respected, and not be treated as something which could be discarded without a moment’s thought.

“Nick may have in the last years of his life decided to distance himself from his family, but he was still in our minds, hearts and prayers. 

“We can’t begin to stress the difficulties this situation has caused our family.

“Nick was a lonely man who relied on the support of his neighbours and friends. He was a man who served his country in the Royal Navy and he was a man who should have left his time on Earth with dignity. 

“However, the perpetrators involved in this case decided they were above the law on this and decided their personal gain was worth more than the respect of Nick.”