A large dog scratched at the door in frustration when it was left alone to guard a £54,000 cannabis farm, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

The Newfoundland had sores and matted fur and was living in its own mess in the kitchen at the address in Thurston Gardens, Allerton, Bradford.

Darryl Slack, 47, who set up the grow pleaded guilty to production of cannabis and causing unnecessary suffering to the dog by leaving it alone in a confined area with no access to outside toileting.

He was spared an immediate jail sentence after the court heard of his long battle with serious mental health problems and the huge efforts he had made to turn his life around.

Prosecutor Paul Canfield said that Slack, of Cragg Terrace, Great Horton, Bradford, was renting the property where he had set up the cannabis farm.

When police officers acting on a tip-off arrived on May 6 last year they found that two bedrooms and the loft had been turned over to growing the drug.

There was a diagram on the wall explaining the different strains of plants and the electricity supply had been bypassed.

Mr Canfield said that 116 plants were taken out of the property by the police in 18 bin bags.

The crop would have yielded 6.38 kilos of cannabis worth just over £54,000 if split into street deals.

The police found the dog in the kitchen.

It had sores and its fur was matted.

It was provided with food and water but scratch marks on the door were evidence at its frustration at being locked in for hours on end, the court was told.

It had since made a good recovery, Mr Canfield said.

Slack had 11 previous convictions for 17 offences, including possession of drugs.

His barrister, Caroline Abraham, said he had kept out of trouble for 15 years before this.

He ran into problems when an old £10,000 drug debt was called in.

Slack also lost his employment and his relationship broke down, Miss Abraham said.

His family were fully supportive of him and he had since made great strides to turn his life back round.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, sentenced him to 21 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 180 hours of unpaid work.

He must also attend 20 rehabilitation activity days.

Judge Mansell said it was “an appalling way to treat an animal.”

Dogs needed fresh air and companionship, not to be shut in with their own mess.

But Slack’s probation officer said he was at a low risk of reoffending and his family were very supportive, attending court with him.

Judge Mansell said his fragile mental health would make him very vulnerable in prison.

He didn’t make an order banning him from keeping an animal because he felt that his particular circumstances at the time had led to the neglect offence.