Police found more than 100 plants taking up most of Raymond Nichols' house when they raided it last year and say the haul had a value of £35,000.

Nichols had also tampered with the house's electricity supply to boost power for the 'farm'

Teesside Crown Court heard how the flourishing plants would have produced enough cannabis for around 17,000 joints.

He appeared to be sentenced on Friday after earlier pleading guilty to cultivating the drug and tampering with the home's electricity supply as part of the sophisticated set up.

Drugs officers carried out the warrant at the house in Brafferton Street, Hartlepool, on November 28.

Sue Jacobs, prosecuting, said: "Inside they found what can only be described as a cannabis farm. There was a considerable number of plants taking up most of the house."

The home's electricity supply was found to have been tampered with around ten weeks earlier to boost powerful lighting as part of the operation.

The Mail reported at the time how the farm was uncovered by eagle-eyed neighbourhood police who noticed condensation on the windows and a pungent smell coming from the property.

Officers recovered a total of 113 plants found growing in two bedrooms and the loft.

The court heard how Nichols became the farm's "gardener" after being approached by a group of men last October who offered him a place to stay provided he looked after the plants.

Ian Mullarkey, mitigating, said Nichols had become hooked on heroin after the death of his two-year-old son from leukaemia eight years ago and more recently his grandmother.

He said: "He was in the grip of a heroin addiction and was vulnerable to their suggestions. He was relieved when police raided the address as it gave him a way out."

Nichols also pleaded guilty to burgling a house in Clifton Avenue on June 29 when he stole electrical items, DVDs, compact discs and a mobile phone.

Recorder of Middlesbrough Peter Fox QC jailed him for two years for the cannabis growing charges and another six months for the burglary.

He said: "I hope you use the time to get clean and stay clean when you come out."