A BURNLEY man caught with three cannabis plants and around 65 seedlings was given a second chance by a crown court judge.

Police were investigating Steven Riley over an unrelated matter when they visited him at his Cairo Street home, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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When officers went into a front bedroom they found three cannabis plants, and later discovered that the electricity meter had also been bypassed.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said that because Riley only had three cannabis plants in the room, and around 64 other ‘baby’ plants, it was accepted that the drugs were for his own personal use.

Riley’s operation was described as ‘unsophisticated’.

The 38-year-old admitted producing cannabis and illegally abstracting electricity and was given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for six months.

Nick Dearing, defending, said Riley has now secured shift work at a bead blasting operation in the town and was looking to make a fresh start.

The defendant also made frank admissions to police after his arrest.

Judge Beverley Lunt told Riley: “Keep out of trouble or go to prison - it is your choice.”