A CANNABIS user decided to cut the cost of his drug habit by “growing his own”, a court heard.

But Kevin Walker also planned to sell some of the crop to a circle of friends to help off-set his green-fingered investment.

His fledgling cannabis growing operation was short-lived however, as police, acting on a tip-off, visited his home in Grey Gables, Brandon, near Durham, on Wednesday March 12 last year.

Louise Reevell, prosecuting, told Durham Crown Court that when police came knocking, asking about cannabis growth, Walker immediately came clean, replying: “Yes, there’s about 50 plants in the loft.”

Officers discovered plant lighting and feed, while the electricity meter was bypassed to provide free power for the operation.

Miss Reevell said 55 plants were recovered, but each with a lower than usual potential yield of 40g of cannabis bush, per plant, as only three lights were in use, fewer than in many similar domestic drug “farms”.

It was estimated more than £500-worth of free electricity was obtained, which, together with the cost of repairs to the meter, came to £1,052.

Walker, who was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and abstracting electricity, made full admissions when interviewed.

He claimed it was for personal use of the drug, but when he pleaded ‘guilty’ to both offences at the court last year, it was on the basis that a portion of the crop was to be sold to help pay for the equipment.

Miss Reevell said: “Consideration was given by the reviewing lawyer, with the possibility of a trial of issue in the case.

“But, it’s now accepted while he was to be the primary user, there was to be a small commercial element, selling up to about £700-worth, as that was the amount he spent setting up the operation.”

Miss Reevell said the recovered plants were up to eight-weeks-old with a projected yield put at 1,540g, worth up to £8,800 in street sale terms.

Jamie Adams, for 37-year-old Walker, said it was his first drug offence, and this was his first attempt at producing his own cannabis.

“He never felt entirely happy about it from the outset, and he was almost relieved that his grow wasn’t really very good.

“It was a basic grow, with a modicum of equipment.”

Imposing a six-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, Judge Simon Hickey ordered Walker to perform 100 hours’ unpaid work.

The court heard that the defendant is already repaying the electricity company for the free power obtained.