A 42-YEAR-OLD man phoned police and asked if he was ‘legally allowed to kill’ teenagers who he claimed he had seen in his back yard.

Blackburn magistrates heard James Mason had mentioned Samurai swords causing police to race to his address.

But instead of troublesome teens they found cannabis growing in his address and the defendant in an agitated state which they believed to be drug induced.

And when they told Mason he was being arrested he said: “You’re meant to be here to help me, I don’t understand what’s going on.”

Mason, of Henry Street, Rishton, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of cannabis. He was made subject to community supervision for six months with a drug rehabilitation requirement and ordered to pay £145 costs.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said while police were talking to Mason outside his house he said the teenagers were further up the road looking at them.

“The police couldn’t see anyone but they could see the defendant couldn’t stand still and was bouncing from foot to foot,” said Miss Allan. “They formed the opinion he was under the influence of drugs and when they went into the house found a cannabis cultivation set-up.”

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Mason had been celebrating his birthday and had drunk a lot and smoked a lot of cannabis.

“The effect of that was that he was feeling paranoid,” said Mr Taylor. “All he wanted was for the police to check whether the youths were in his back yard and move them on.”

Mr Taylor said Mason had been using cannabis since he was 14 years old.

“Even though he receives prescription medication for depression he says nothing helps with his mood like cannabis does,” said Mr Taylor.

“He can get into a state if he doesn’t use it.”