A millionaire who grew £10,000 worth of magic mushrooms has been spared jail

A millionaire who grew £10,000 worth of magic mushrooms in his Grade-II listed castle has been spared jail. Police discovered the secret stash in Simon Giles' home that has historic royal connections.

Police were visiting Lullingstone Castle on another matter when they found the magic mushrooms in a bathroom in the south wing of the historic manor house, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Giles said after having decided to grow his own after buying spores and guides on the internet, he was "surprised' how quickly they grew and it got "out of control", the Daily Mail reported.

The "industrial" supply, valued at up to £10,000, would have lasted the dad-of-three approximately 14-and-a-half years of micro-dosing, claimed an expert.

But the prosecution accepted it was for personal use so Giles was handed an eight-month jail term, suspended for 18 months. Giles stored the substance in 10 clear plastic containers.