A PENSIONER who was caught growing cannabis plants in his farmhouse while subject to a suspended prison sentence for committing the same crime has been spared jail again.

Recorder Andrew McLoughlin said that 70-year-old John Leslie Allison, who runs Hubbs House Farm in Colne, was lucky not to be spending his 71st birthday in prison as a result of his offending.

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Burnley Crown Court heard that police carried out a welfare check in April after Allison reported a tractor and trailer had been stolen from the farm in Southfield Lane.

Whilst inside they found nine cannabis plants inside a tent in an upstairs bedroom and other drugs paraphernalia including a lighting rig.

Prosecutor Lisa Worsley said Allison was invited for a voluntary interview by police where he said he had been growing the plants to treat his arthritis.

Miss Worsley said he answered no comment when asked who the plants belonged to.

She said: “He said he was worried and it seemed he was in fear. He accepted he had been responsible for growing and watering the plants. He said he was very foolish to do this when he was on a suspended sentence for similar matters.”

Defending, Richard Taylor said his client was vulnerable and he had been forced in to growing the plants for others.

Mr Taylor said: “The truth of the matter is the plants were brought to him and he was pressured. He accepts that the set-up was put in to the bedroom and he was told that he would get away with nine plants. As he said to the probation officer, the people involved said they would come back and that is why he didn’t report it to the police.

“This is a very small amount of cannabis and there is no gain for himself.”

Allison pleaded guilty to one count of producing a class B drug in relation to nine six-inch high cannabis plants.

That meant he was in breach of a suspended sentence laid down on August 5, 2015, after he confessed to allowing a £20,000 cannabis farm to be run from two bedrooms at his property.

Mr Recorder McLoughlin said: “You are 70 years of age and you could easily be spending your 71st birthday in prison. You have been at real risk of going to prison today.

“I accept having read the pre-sentence report and it does seem you are a man who is easily preyed upon all be it you have some knowledge of avoiding detection. There is not justification for what you have done. Your vulnerability prevents you from going to prison on this occasion. But if you commit any other offences you will be sent to jail despite your difficult family circumstances and your vulnerability.”

Allison was sentenced to two months imprisonment, suspended for two years. and told to complete 200 hours unpaid work, pay £200 costs and a victim surcharge. The original suspended sentence still applies. A destruction order was also made.