AROUND 80 cannabis plants were discovered when police searched a Darwen address - in Pothouse Lane.

A man living at the home was ordered to carry out unpaid community work while a co-defendant was jailed for six months as both were sentenced at Preston Crown Court.

Ryan Hammond, 20, had pleaded guilty to possessing a Class B drug with intent to supply, and cultivating cannabis.

Nathan Brownlee, 24, of Melville Gardens, Darwen had denied the two offences and a third charge of committing an act tended and intended to pervert the course of justice.

Martin Hackett, prosecuting, said it was last February when police executed a search warrant at Hammond's home. In the loft, police found 80 cannabis plants connected to an irrigation system.

A mobile phone was heard to ring and it was alleged that Brownlee removed the SIM card and moved the phone.

When the cannabis was examined, 3.8 kilos of the drug were found, its value put at between £6,000 and £11,000.

Brownlee denied any involvement in the cultivation of cannabis. Hammond made full admissions.

Alistair Bower, for Hammond, said the defendant had accepted his responsibility from the outset. He had borrowed £2,000 to get the equipment and set it up. It was said Brownlee provided the original cuttings.

"He saw it as a way to get some control over his indebtedness," he said.

It started small and became big. He was effectively led on by his co-defendant. He had used cannabis in the past on a personal basis. His involvement only covered a few months. He had not supplied drugs to anyone and there had been no financial gain."

Tim White, for Brownlee, said there was no evidence of profit or gain. The experience of going through the judicial system had been a "traumatic" one.

"This was a brief stupid flirtation, but it never reached the point where anything was sold," he said. "There is no evidence at all of harvesting or distribution. The crime was in its infancy."

Mr White suggested that public attitudes to cannabis were changing. The public interest would not demand that Brownlee be sent to prison, but rather be given community punishment.

Recorder Harry Narayan accepted that attitudes were changing and that the government might decriminalise cannabis, but there had been guidelines laid down by the Court of Appeal. He ordered £400 costs.