AN arthritis sufferer who claimed he used cannabis to alleviate his pain has been given a suspended prison sentence at Bolton Crown Court.

When police raided Carl Neal’s home in West Avenue, Farnworth, they found an upstairs bedroom full of 20 cannabis plants growing under halogen lamps.

Geoff Whelan, prosecuting, told the court that an expert had estimated the plants, a strong variety of skunk called Blue Cheese, would yield 1.8kg of the drug, which could have fetched up to £36,000 on the streets.

But Peter Horgan, defending, said 48-year-old Neal was not growing the plants for commercial gain, although some of the drug would have been used to pay debts.

Instead, he planned to use his own cannabis to avoid paying a dealer £20 a day for the drug he used to help him cope with joint pain. Mr Horgan said Neal had immediately admitted what he was doing to police.

“When police came to the door the phrase ‘It’s a fair cop’ comes to mind,” he said.

He added that Neal has now found a job as a labourer and has stopped using cannabis “It would seem the efforts he has been making were kick-started by police knocking on his door,” said Mr Horgan.

Neal pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.

Recorder Robert Farley, QC, was told that Neal had a previous conviction for producing cannabis in 2010, but he accepted the defendant’s reason for committing his latest crime.

Neal was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, with three months supervision by the probation service.

He must also attend sessions with the Bolton drug and alcohol team and pay a £100 victim surcharge.