A cannabis addict grew more than 80 plants in his home because he could not afford to buy the drug on the streets, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Barry Travis, 35, had skunk cannabis with a street value of more than £30,000 in the front bedroom and attic of his home in Cutler Heights Lane, Bradford.

He had learned how to set it up from the internet, but the court heard he did not sell it for profit, but used it himself as he was dependant upon it.

His barrister, Sohail Khan, said his client was going to save money by buying his own crop. “It is a case of him not being able to buy it on the streets and wanting his own crop,” Mr Khan said.

Judge Peter Benson said it was a substantial amount of cannabis, but he sentenced the defendant on the basis that it was for his own use.

Travis, who pleaded guilty to producing cannabis, was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, with 150 hours of unpaid community work and a medium activity for 30 days.