A 23-YEAR-OLD man who volunteered himself at the police station on one matter ended up being arrested for another.

Blackburn magistrates heard officers conducted a search at the home of Sam Philip Clarke and discovered a cannabis farm.

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And while the original investigation came to nothing, the discovery lead to further charges. Clarke, 23, of Robert Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and abstracting electricity.

He was sent on bail to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced.

Dominic Howell, prosecuting, said officers discovered 11 cannabis plants growing in a bedroom when they carried out a search at the defendant’s home. He said the offence was committed while Clarke had a similar matter of producing cannabis hanging over him.

He was subsequently sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years, for that offence when he appeared at the crown court.

“This offence was not in breach of that suspended sentence but it was while he had the matter hanging over him,” said Mr Howell.

Gareth Price, defending, said Clarke had started using cannabis himself and ended up with a drug debt.

“The cultivation he got involved in was to try and pay off that debt,” said Mr Price.

“The matter he volunteered himself to the police for did not result in any prosecution.”