A MECHANIC set up a cannabis farm in a rented property to feed his own addiction.

Darius Kitovecus, 25, had £5,620 worth of dried cannabis - as well as seven plants and around 100 cuttings - at a rental property on Lonsdale Street, Nelson.

Burnley Crown Court heard that the Lithuanian-born mechanic said the "very significant" amount of cannabis was to feed his own addiction and was not being sold on.

Prosecuting the case, Mercedeh Jabbari said it was intially thought the class B drug was being grown to be sold on, however due to police never acquiring the pin for a phone which was confiscated, this was never able to be confirmed.

Thomas Lord, in mitigation, said Kitovecus is a skilled mechanic who works hard.

He said: “He is a skilled worker. He did courses in Lithuania and he still undertakes that work now.

“He is an intelligent man who has stable accommodation, a stable job and a good family back at home in Lithuania.”

Sentencing Kitovecus, Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC said: “You know that growing cannabis is criminal.

“You choose to start a cannabis farm and to grow a series of crops.

“There was drying cannabis, seven almost mature plants and many cuttings, some of which I have no doubt you would have looked to develop into full plants.”

Kitovecus of Highfield Close, Nelson, has been made subject to an electronically monitored curfew for four months, required to be at home from 8pm and 6am every day.

He has also been ordered to pay £1,200 in court costs and must undertake five rehabilitation days and 120 hours of unpaid work.