A FORMER electrician who grew cannabis to ease the pain of arthritis and help depression has been given a suspended jail sentence by Plymouth Crown Court.

Simon Quoreenton, 46, pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing a class B drug and one of producing it.

Victoria Hoyle, prosecuting, said on Tuesday that on November 4 last year, police raided a property at Dousland where Mr Quoreenton was living.

The court heard police found 34 cannabis plants in the garage roof, plus dried cannabis in rooms in the house and in a boat on the drive.

Mr Quoreenton told police he used cannabis to control arthritic pain and to moderate his mood.

The court was told he had previous convictions for drug possession and cultivation.

In his defence, Ali Rafati told the court that Mr Quoreenton had given up work to care for his 84-year-old mother, who had severe heart problems.

He said the pair lived frugally, producing their own car bio-fuel and growing vegetables in the garden.

Judge Paul Darlow said he accepted that Mr Quoreenton, whose address was given as a farm near Tavistock, was not growing the drug for sale, although the hydroponic production of the plants was relatively professional.

He sentenced him to 28 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, and ordered him to do 80 hours of unpaid community work and pay £100 towards prosecution costs.