A Droitwich man claimed he was growing cannabis for his own consumption after police found 40 plants thriving at his home, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Wayne Smith, a 36-year-old painter and decorator, of Crofters Way, had plants in a small back room at his house and there were some in an outhouse, said prosecutor Paul Whitfield.

It had been estimated that had the plants been fully grown they could have had a street value of £11,000 to £33,000. But police, who raided the house in October last year, had said it was possible that Smith had been growing for himself.

Judge Michael Cullum said he accepted this version so he was not going to jail Smith, who had admitted cultivating the cannabis. He suspended a 20-week jail sentence for one year and ordered Smith to do 200 hours unpaid work. He imposed £540 costs and ordered the hydroponic equipment to be forfeited.

Jason Patel, for Smith, said that although he was a long-term user he had been able to cut down his addiction to virtually nothing.