A 61-YEAR-OLD man caught cultivating his own "cannabis farm," told a court he used the Class B drug as a method of pain relief.

Jeffrey Rigg, of Devon Street, Barrow, appeared at Furness Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to producing the controlled drug.

Officers had originally been called out to Rigg's home on an unrelated matter, but once they were inside the property they discovered a number of cannabis plants and related paraphernalia inside.

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Mr Peter Kelly, prosecuting, told the court how officers discovered a "cannabis farm of six plants" and "other assorted items" before arresting the defendant and seizing the goods.

Mr Kelly also read out the defendant's statement which he made on August 3, at Barrow police station where he confessed to growing the plants at home for his personal use and to help ease the severe wrist pain he suffers from as a result of industrial injury.

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Miss Amy Watkin, defending, said: "My client suffers from work-related injuries and uses the cannabis to self-medicate for that.

"It is clearly not a 'farm', and is nowhere near what we see in those types of cases as there are only six plants which he has for personal use."

Presiding magistrate Mr George Butler fined Rigg £200 for the offence and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the items.

Rigg was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.

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