A 50-year-old man was jailed for two years today after police caught him growing cannabis with the potential to earn him £70,000 a year.

David Lowes was nurturing 65 cannabis plants in a bedroom at his house in Nuttal Road, Barkerend, Bradford, when it was raided on January 12.

He pleaded guilty to production of the Class B drug and possession of it with intent to supply.

The court was told that the street value of the cannabis was more than £26,000 and it could have reaped an annual profit of £70,000.

In mitigation, Lowes’ barrister, Peter Hampton, said he had been offered work with a haulage company and there was “a sea change” in his life.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said Lowes had 20 convictions for 41 offences.

He was running a relatively sophisticated cannabis production operation for financial gain.