A FATHER-OF-TWO turned to growing cannabis after running into 'financial trouble'.
Robert Tutin, 26, of Deightonby Street, Thurnscoe, had been struggling with debts and began growing the drug.
Neighbours reported the smell of cannabis emanating from his property on February 13 and officers found a door glass panel had been smashed and the house broken into.
Brian Outhwaite, prosecuting, said nobody was present but a cannabis growing set-up was found in a small bedroom upstairs.
There were lights, an extractor fan and water butt with feed along with a dozen plants of which six had been cropped.
When Tutin returned home the next day he was arrested.
"This was a commercial enterprise based on his full and frank admission to police," said Mr Outhwaite.
"He was hoping to make a thousand pounds per plant."
Recorder Nicholas Campbell QC told Tutin: "You have made a very foolish mistake but having become involved in this enterprise it has come to nothing. The reality is you haven't gained anything from this criminal activity."
He gave Tutin a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work.
