A man caught with a large ecstasy factory in the cellar of his home today thanked a judge for “his wisdom” when he did not jail him.

Patrick McCool had been so desperate for cash while waiting for a substantial inheritance he agreed to let two men “store something” in his cellar.

When police raided his Wirral home they found a pill making machine and enough ecstasy powder to make £208,000 worth of tablets.

But after hearing that he had acted out of desperation, had not been involved in the drug production and has spent six months in custody on remand a judge suspended nine month imprisonment for two years.

He also ordered 54-year-old McCool to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

As he was taken back downstairs to be released he said to the judge, “Your honour, thank you for your wisdom.”

Katy Appleton, prosecuting, had told Liverpool Crown Court that police raided McCool’s run-down six bedroom semi-detached home in Clifton Road, Tranmere, on February 4 this year.

McCool, who was there with his girlfriend, admitted, “there’s stuff in the cellar” and said, “I’ve been paid by people to hide drugs.”

Police found a pill-making machine and enough ecstasy powder to make £208,000 worth of tablets.

When interviewed he said he had been working on his mum’s farm in Ireland for 20 years and since her death in 2012 he had been waiting his inheritance which included the £200,000 house in Tranmere and £480,000 cash.

He expected to get the cash in February and came over from Ireland in October but had no money for food and after telling a man this he was approached by two other men who said they would give him a “few bob” for storing something in his cellar and he agreed.

They arrived with a wooden crate two foot square and he later heard the sound of machinery and there was a strong smell.

He found a glass jar with some green tablets in it and took it upstairs to examine but did not get round to it. The men had given him £120 cash and put £80 on his gas card.

After two weeks he told them to take the stuff away or he would leave it by the bins and they said they would do so but they did not come back.

Anna Duke, defending, admitted McCool, who has committed 53 previous offences including receiving seven years for a drugs plot, has “a chequered past.”

But she said that he had been out of trouble for some time and has been a model prisoner while on remand.

He had committed the offence “out of desperation.”

When he had been approached by the men “he foolishly did not think about the consequences of allowing his premises to be used.” She pointed out that there was no forensic evidence linking McCool with the illicit factory.

The judge, Recorder Simon Parrington told McCool, who pleaded guilty to permitting his premises to be used for producing ecstasy, “I accept there was an element of desperation on your part.”

He said that while it was custody case it was clearly appropriate for it to be suspended.