Mark Malone's crop of 28 plants was discovered growing in his partner Kimberley Salmons' garage, which had been specially adapted into a sophisticated set up.

But Teesside Crown Court heard how the illegal enterprise, which could have produced £3,500 of powerful skunk cannabis, was nipped in the bud when police raided the property.

As well as the plants, officers also found high-intensity lighting and ventilation designed to help the cannabis reach its maximum potential.

Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said: "In the internal garage police discovered a sophisticated cannabis farm in operation.

"The photographs are evidence of a room that's been specially adapted for the cultivation of cannabis, with the installation of a sophisticated lighting system which maximises artificial light."

The court heard how Malone, 29, who previously worked for Hartlepool Borough Council as a landscape gardener, decided to grow cannabis after losing his job as a cable puller last year.

Salmons, 27, let him use the garage at her rented home in Sedgewick Close, Hartlepool, also after finding herself jobless in May last year after six years.

After being arrested, Malone, who the court heard regularly stayed at the house, confessed to planning to sell the cannabis for a profit.

Salmons initially denied any knowledge of the drugs, but police found some of her clothes in a tumble dryer inside the garage.

She later pleaded guilty to permitting premises to be used on July 4 last year for the cultivation of cannabis.

Paul Cleasby, mitigating for Malone, said: "It appears he had been given some advice from an associate and naively was a little too ready to accept that advice.

"Regrettably this enterprise, naive and foolish though it was, started at a time when he had lost his job through no fault of his own."

Ian Mullarkey, mitigating on behalf of Salmons, now of Lamberd Road, Hartlepool, said: "She is deeply ashamed of what she allowed to go on in her home. She accepts while it was Mr Malone's idea she initially refused, but unfortunately for her she relented.

"Sadly that was because of the financial difficulty the couple were experiencing."

Malone, of Devon Street, Hartlepool, admitted cultivating cannabis and received a nine-month prison term suspended for two years and 200 hours unpaid work.

Salmons was given six months prison suspended for 12 months.
Judge Peter Armstrong said: "Having lost your jobs you turned to illegality.

"It is almost beyond belief that you thought you would get away with this when some friend recommended it as a way of making some easy money.

"Go away and don't do anything stupid like this again."