A BROMSGROVE cannabis user with a spinal condition has been given a suspended sentence after a judge accepted the drug was produced to ease his own agony.

Gregory Taft, of Catshill, told Worcester Crown Court that when he started growing it, he did not know how much cannabis the plants would produce – and he had no intention of ever trying to sell it to anyone else.

The 66-year-old said: "I know it looks over the top - perhaps it was.

"I always thought if I was going to do something, do it properly."

The keen gardener invested £2,500 in equipment to nurture the plants and, in one room, he even experimented to see if it would grow better using molasses sugar and carbon dioxide.

Scott Coughtrie, prosecuting, said police found the original cannabis plants after answering reports that someone had been attacked in Stourbridge Road, Catshill.

Officers found blood outside Taft’s home in the street and forced entry, but a neighbour then arrived and said Taft was with him after being injured.

Taft told the officers he had been attacked because he was growing cannabis. Police then found seven mature plants and 18 medium growth plants in a unit behind the property.

Forensic scientist Joy Newman told the court one yield of the plants discovered could produce a total of 1,712 grams of cannabis, but defence expert Paul Attenborough - a former police detective - pointed out nothing was found that would be normally associated with a commercial drug factory.

Taft, a former motor dealer, admitted producing the cannabis found in his home, in April 2013.

The short trial was held to decide whether he had intended to sell any of it or pass it on to others, and Judge Michael Cullum said he was satisfied that the cannabis was predominantly for Taft’s own use.

“It was set up to produce a lot of cannabis to alleviate a serious spinal condition,” said the judge, who added that the amount produced was “much more” than he needed.

“He describes it as over the top but I am satisfied that he intended to use it himself.”

Taft also appeared for sentencing on a further charge of producing four large cannabis plants, found by police at his home last September, when he was on bail for the first offence.

He was given a six month prison sentence suspended for a year and the judge ordered the destruction of the cannabis plants and equipment found at his home.

Speaking after the case, Taft told the Bromsgrove Advertiser the decision was a “relief”.

“People like myself should be able to grow medicinal cannabis – it’s the only thing that works,” said Taft, who was diagnosed with the disintegrating spine disease in 2009.

“The pain is terrible – I have high power drugs but the only thing that works is cannabis.

"For two hours after taking it I am like a new person."