A MAN turned to cannabis to help him with the stress of a bitter family break up, a court heard.

But his solicitor, Basharat Ditta, conceded that Suhail Vohra would have to accept that using the drug is illegal and find an alternative method of stress relief.

"He can not resort to cannabis every time he feels stress, otherwise most members of society would be walking round with cannabis in their pocket," Mr Ditta told Blackburn magistrates.

Vohra, 21, of Carlton Gardens, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to possession of 27.1 grammes of the drug. The magistrates adjourned the case until June 16 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports after hearing that Vohra had five previous convictions for the same offence.

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said Vohra had run into a house when he saw a police officer and the officer had given chase. He found a bag containing nine pieces of cannabis which Vohra said were worth about £75 and had been bought for his own use.

Mr Ditta said Vohra had been part of a large, extended family unit but his parents had split and the family had fragmented. "There is a lot of friction between what is now his mother's side and his father's side," said Mr Ditta.

"He finds the situation difficult to deal with and has started developing bald patches which the doctor says are caused by stress. He accepts that he has resorted to the recreational use of cannabis to help him through this."