A MAN who grew cannabis at home was yesterday ordered to pay £19,634 he earned from the drug.

Police recovered 36 skunk plants in a raid at the home of James Williams, in Blackhall, County Durham, in April last year.

Nine were in an airing cupboard and the other 27 were in the loft, which was fitted with lighting, filtering and other equipment.

Durham Crown Court heard the seized cannabis, weighing 1,485 grammes, was worth about £5,300.

Williams, 34, a pipe fitter, of Hepscott Avenue, previously admitted producing a controlled drug and abstracting electricity.

Stephen Orange, prosecuting, said the pleas were made on the basis that the cannabis cultivated was for his own use and not to supply anyone else.

Williams was ordered to perform 180-hours' community punishment work, while the case was adjourned for Proceeds of Crime Act inquiries into the benefits accrued by the growth of the drugs.

Mr Orange told yesterday's hearing that the total benefit is estimated at £33,180, with £19,634 considered realisable from that figure.

Judge Richard Lowden ordered Williams to pay £2,600 within 14 days and a further £17,034 within six months.

Should he fail to make the payments, he faces a 12-month prison sentence.