POLICE who went to a Darwen address looking for someone instead discovered a fledgling cannabis farm.

Blackburn magistrates heard 51-year-old James Anthony Ford told officers he had only had the 20 plants for 12 hours.

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Ford, of Percival Street, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and abstracting electricity without authority.

He was made subject to community supervision for 12 months with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement, fined £30 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.

Ben Leech, defending, said Ford was taking a significant amount of prescribed medication to ease the pain of a trapped sciatic nerve.

"He believes the use of cannabis alleviates the pain and he was anxious to reduce his use of pain killers," said Mr Leech.