POLICE who responded to the smell of cannabis coming from a Barnoldswick house found a quantity of the drug and a single plant.

Blackburn magistrates heard Robert Brian Mortimer ailed to turn up at court on the due date and when police arrested him again he had a quantity of cannabis on him.

Mortimer, 34, of Church Street, Barnoldswick, pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing cannabis.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said when he was arrested Mortimer told police cannabis was his medication.

He said Mortimer suffered from post traumatic stress disorder as a result of abuse when he was a child.

"He has sought help from various agencies but they have been unable to help," said Mr Bakhat.

"He says cannabis is the only way he has been able to cope with the stresses and strains of his life."

He said Mortimer had no previous convictions.