THE ex-husband of former pop star Kerry Katona was caught producing up to £50,000 of cannabis, a court heard.

Mark Croft appeared at Bolton Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced after pleading guilty to growing dozens of cannabis plants at a property in Bolton between January 1 and April 4 this year.

Recorder Andrew Loveridge was told that a forensic expert estimated the yield from the plants would be more than 5kg, with police saying the drug could have a street value of up to £52,340.

But Philip Parry, defending Croft, disputed the value of the cannabis plants — adding that there were 139 saplings in the crop which can be difficult to grow to maturity.

Croft denied the saplings would have produced such a large yield — reducing the total value of the cannabis he grew.

Mr Parry said it was unlikely that the prosecution and defence could agree on a yield and valuation and so requested the sentence be adjourned until January 12 for a trial of issue to take place.

Mr Parry said: “There is no middle ground here that can be safely alighted on.”

A judge will now hear arguments from both sides before ruling on a valuation.

Recorder Loveridge granted Croft, aged 43, of Rutherford Drive, Over Hulton, unconditional bail.

He will be sentenced following the January 12 hearing.

Croft, a former taxi driver, split from former Atomic Kitten singer and television celebrity Kerry Katona in 2009 after a two-year marriage.

The couple, who have two children together, wed after Ms Katona and her first husband, Westlife boy band member Brian McFadden, divorced.