A DAD-OF-THREE set up a cannabis factory at his home after running up four-figure gambling debts, a court heard today.

Police found the professional drugs farm in a bedroom at the rented property in Idle Road, Bradford, after investigating reports that the premises were insecure.

They found 21 large cannabis plants and 50 smaller ones, along with lighting, ducting, transformers and fertiliser. The electricity meter had been tampered with.

In the attic of the house were three tents set up for cannabis grows.

Bradford Crown Court heard the plants seized were too immature to determine what they would yield.

Jordan Lambert, 24, had pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.

His barrister, Soheil Khan, said his client, who was said to play rugby league to a high standard and coached youngsters, had a problem with gambling and had debts of £5,000. He was offered the chance to wipe off the debt for setting up the farm, Mr Khan said.

Lambert was a trustworthy and diligent self-employed carpet fitter and a family man with three young children.

Judge Neil Davey QC said Lambert had produced a substantial quantity of cannabis. It was clearly a professional set up.

But he had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty at an early opportunity.

He sentenced Lambert to 12 months imprisonment suspended for a year and ordered him to carry out 100 hours unpaid community work.