Today, a top politician slammed the sentence as "soft" while a leading town detective called for consistency in punishing drug criminals.

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John Arnold, 42, appeared at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court after police uncovered his stash of cannabis plants during a search on his former home in Jesmond Gardens.

Our picture shows the £10,000 crop of 41 mature plants that were found during a police raid on the property on January 11.

Sophisticated growing equipment was also found in the rear bedroom of the house including lights and fertilizer.

Arnold admitted producing the Class C drug, but he was fined £150 after the court heard he smoked the cannabis to ease his cravings for heroin, and that he grew it for his own use.

Last September, another Hartlepool man was given six months behind bars after a cannabis stash was discovered at his home, with just seven more plants than Arnold.

Ian Bradshaw, prosecuting, said: "He was arrested and interviewed the same day and he told the police that he had been growing the plants for 12 weeks after reading up on how to grow them on the internet.

"He said he had bought 10 deals of cannabis bush which had a number of seeds he could plant.

"He added that he had bought equipment and fully admitted production.

"He said that the plants were three quarters grown."

Adrian Morris, mitigating, said that it was an "amateur set up" and that he was on treatment for an addiction to heroin.

Mr Morris added: "He is on methadone and he decided to grow cannabis for his own use to assist in helping to numb his cravings for heroin."

Arnold, now of Richardson Street, Hartlepool, was fined £150 and ordered to pay a £15 surcharge and £45 costs.

Detective Chief Inspector, Paul Beddow vowed to crackdown on drugs activity when he took on his position in Hartlepool Police late last year - and some £700,000 worth of cannabis have been seized during police operations.

He said: "I am unable to comment on this particular case and the sentencing of this individual.

"However, there is a clear need and public expectation for us to combat crime and drugs in Hartlepool and this is another example of the police being pro-active in that fight.

"Whilst I acknowledge that cannabis is a Class C drug, the cultivation of such is obviously far more serious than that of simple possession.

"There is a real issue that if the sentencing does not reflect the seriousness of the offence then committing such offences becomes an acceptable risk."

Conservative MEP for the North East, Martin Callanan, said: "This seems like a very lenient sentence and will do nothing to discourage other drug users or drug dealers.

"Drugs are a serious threat to our law abiding society and I am in favour of the law being enforced.

"Whilst I agree with rehabilitation, we can't afford to give out soft sentences and it sends out a very poor message."