A man who admitted producing and possessing cannabis was smoking the drug for medicinal purposes, a court heard yesterday.

Stephen Rowe, of Flinton Grove, Fagley, Bradford, suffered from chronic back pain and took prescribed medication, Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court was told.

Police found a small-scale cannabis factory, comprising six plants, hidden behind shelves in a shed at the side of his house.

The plants could have yielded a street value of between £1,500 and £2,300.

The court was told there was no suggestion the plants were to be used for commercial supply.

Rowe, 53, was fined £110, with £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.