A MAN whose cannabis farm was discovered when would-be raiders threatened his next-door neighbour at knifepoint has avoided jail.

Joel Ingham, 32, was told by Judge Jonathan Rose that his offending demonstrated the “social damage” that could be caused by the drugs trade.

Prosecutor Philip Adams told Bradford Crown Court that on August 30 last year, police were called to a house on Halifax Road in Queensbury after the female occupant reported a group of men bursting into her home.

The court heard that the group were dressed as parcel delivery men and “poked a knife in the woman’s chest”, demanding that she hand over cannabis plants.

When police later arrived and searched the property, they found it shared a communal cellar with the house next door, Ingham’s address.

On entering his house, officers found that two bedrooms had been adapted for the growing of cannabis, with one containing 30 mature plants and six high-powered lights.

One plant sent for analysis was one metre high, and experts said that each plant could have yielded 55g, giving a total of 1.65kg, which the court heard had a potential street value of £16,500.

Ingham pleaded guilty to a charge of the production of a class B drug.

Addressing the defendant, Judge Rose said: “There are some people who think that cannabis is harmless. I imagine you don’t think that anymore.

“The harm it causes to society has been demonstrated very starkly by your case. And it’s all your fault.”

The judge said that Ingham’s “need and desire” to smoke cannabis had led him into financial difficulties.

He told the defendant: “You came into contact with someone who thought it a brilliant idea to grow cannabis.

“It was a brilliant idea as you took all the risk. He is not in the dock.”

Judge Rose said that the group of men had targeted Ingham’s grow in a “planned” and “professional” attack.

He said: “Your valuable crop is also valuable to other people, not to buy, but to steal.

“If you had been growing vegetables in your garden this would not have happened.”

Referring to Ingham’s innocent next-door neighbour, the judge said: “This was a lady who had no reason to expect anything going on until men turn up at her door and threaten her at knifepoint.

“And who is responsible for that, you are Mr Ingham.

“You are a cog in a wheel of criminality that perpetuates drug abuse.”

Ingham was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days.

Judge Rose told Ingham he had avoided immediate custody due to his lack of previous convictions and a desire from the probation service to engage with him.

He added: “It is a warning to you. If you continue to offend you and I will meet again and you will go to prison.”