A MAN who allowed his Wordsley home to be used for growing cannabis that could have been worth £100,000 on the streets has avoided a spell behind bars.

Jason Bray, aged 41, had fallen on hard times and he was told he would be paid when the drugs were sold on, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

But he was rumbled when the property in Brierley Hill Road was burgled and a number of the growing cannabis plants were stolen - Mark Phillips, prosecuting, said.

He said neighbours reported the raid to police and when they investigated offices found the cannabis factory together with cultivating equipment.

Mr Phillips said 71 plants in the early stages of production were found along with 50 empty plant pots which were missing the plants taken in the burglary.

Bray had taken out a lease on the property and the officers recovered a council tax bill in his name, the court was told.

But, in the meantime, Bray had contacted his solicitor and he voluntarily went to the police station to admit his part in the racket.

Bray, now living in Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, admitted allowing his home to be used for the production of the controlled drug and he was given a 12-month jail term suspended for a year.

Henry Skudra, defending, said Bray who was further ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work in the community had been having major troubles in his life.

But he stressed to the court that he had played no part at all in the running of the crooked operation.